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Check out specially treated clothing for kids and adults, insect repellents for the skin, and tick prevention tips from medical professionals.

Tessa Flores is a Staff Writer for HuffPost covering a number of shopping topics and lifestyle trends.

But that’s exactly what’s at stake, especially if you live in higher-risk parts of the country, such as the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, where humidity levels are higher, said Dr. Samuel Shor, past president of the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society and a clinical associate professor at George Washington University.

“If not caught early, Lyme [disease] can have lasting effects on the brain and nervous system and potentially lead to cognitive impairment,” Shor said. 

Lyme disease is transmitted through deer ticks, which carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme, explained Dr. Luis Marcos, an infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which is located in New York’s Suffolk County at the epicenter of tick-borne diseases. Lyme also happens to be one of the most common vector-borne diseases in the United States.  

“Lyme disease is a growing problem for Suffolk County, with around 600-700 cases every year. Ticks can also be active year-round,” Marcos told us.

The American Camp Association, a community of camp professionals focused on enriching the lives of children through camp, estimates that 25% of all Lyme disease diagnoses in the country are in children, and that children in the summer camp-appropriate age range of 5-14 years old are considered a particularly high-risk group. It’s such a concern, in fact, that the ACA created checklists and codes of conduct to prevent tick bite exposure in summer camp settings.    

Prevention is a good place to start when it comes to protecting yourself from ticks and Lyme, and according to Dorothy Leland, current president of LymeDisease.org and co-author of the book, “When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide,” there are several repellent tools in the form of sprays, topicals, and clothing that can reduce the chances of a tick bite outdoors.

“You should apply bug repellent to exposed skin. Studies show that repellents with DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil are the most effective against ticks,” Leland said. 

Shor said DEET should be a first-choice tick repellent; however, if you are skin-sensitive to DEET, picaridin is a natural alternative that is most commonly effective against mosquitoes and can be a sufficient substitute.

“It’s important to be proactive about the kinds of clothing you wear,” he added. “Stick to light-colored clothing because it can make it easier to spot a tick and tuck pant legs into socks and shirts into the waistband of your pants to prevent ticks from crawling under clothing.”

Leland said that you can also treat your clothing, shoes, and gear with a spray that contains 0.5% permethrin, a synthetic insecticide, which can offer protection for up to five to six washes.  

“You can [also] purchase clothing that has been pre-treated with permethrin and the protection lasts through 70 washings,” she said. 

“If there’s one piece of information that I would want to impart,” Shor said, “it is that you need to be aware of your surroundings. We know that ticks like tall grass and heavily leafed areas. We also know that one of the highest-risk environments for tick exposure is when people are gardening.”

You can be proactive on your next outdoor venture, or send your camper away with some precautionary items from the list below. Find kid-safe repellents and clothing items that have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency as safe and effective for repelling insects, including ticks.  

The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.

This soft-stretch, quick-dry cotton hoodie has been treated with EPA-approved permethrin that is odorless and invisible on clothing. The addition of the lightweight hood and close-fitting design provides additional protection against insects. Shop this machine-washable long-sleeve in three colors and sizes for both standard and plus, as well as sizing options for both men and women.  

Get it from L.L.Bean for $47.99+ in women's (available in sizes XS–XL, 1X–3X, and three colors) and in men's (available in sizes S–XXXL, in Tall sizes, and three colors).

Cutter's Backwood aerosol repellent contains 10% DEET, making it suitable for non-supervised use for kids, and can be applied to both skin and clothing for effective protection that lasts up to 10 hours. The sweat-resistant formula also ensures that you or your child can remain active in warm weather and still be protected from ticks.

For a more portable means of protection, these infused towelettes each contain 30% DEET that can be rubbed onto exposed patches of skin to provide up to seven hours of protection. The water-based formula is low-odor, non-greasy, and non-staining.

Get a 50-pack from Amazon for $49.99 (also available in 25, 50, and 100-packs).

These insect-repelling hiking pants, available in sizes for both men and women, have been treated with permethrin and are constructed from a lightweight nylon with added stretch so they move easily and dry quickly. These machine-washable pants are also infused with UPF 50+ sun protection.

Get them L.L.Bean for $99.95 in women's (available in sizes 2–20, petite, plus, and medium/tall sizes, and two colors) and in men's (available in waist sizes 30–46 inches, four inseams, and two colors).

Add an extra layer of protection to your clothing, shoes, and gear with this unscented permethrin spray that bonds to fabric fibers and repels ticks and 55 other insects, including mosquitoes. Available in both an aerosol and pump-spray formula, the treatment is effective for up to six weeks or six washings, and it won't stain or damage fabric and other surfaces.

Get it from Amazon for $14.49+ (available in two sizes and in multi-packs).

Like all of Insect Shield's products, these cotton crew socks have been treated with permethrin, which has been tested for insect-repellent effectiveness, including against ticks. They have a comfortable built-in cushion on the sole and are available in sizes M–XL. 

Get them from Amazon for $11.95 (also available in white).

Made from 70% cotton, this ultra-breathable and lightweight shirt has EPA-registered permethrin repellent built into the fabric, providing protection against insects for up to 70 washes. This long-sleeve shirt also offers 30+ UV sun protection and is available in sizes for both men and women.

Get them from Amazon for $37+ in men's (available in sizes S–M and five colors).

These stretch-mesh leg gaiters have been treated with long-lasting, EPA-registered, microencapsulated permethrin that is both UV-resistant and gradually released by friction. They remain effective for up to 50 wash cycles and are also available for the arms.

Get the leg gaiters from Amazon for $27.99 (available in four colors) and the arm gaiters for $34 (available in two colors).

Treated with Insect Shield tech, these cargo pants for kids feature ample pockets for storing valuables and elasticized ankle cuffs for even greater tick protection, since it's more difficult for insects to travel up pant legs. There's an elastic waist for added comfort, even as kids grow, as well as UPF 50+ sun protection. Shop them in two colors and gender-neutral sizing XXS–XL. 

You can convert these permethrin-coated and UV-protective pants from full-length trousers to shorts using the concealed zippers at the knee. The quick-drying material promises a gentle stretch for a full range of movement, and plenty of pockets to keep valuables handy. Shop them in two colors and sizes for both men and women. 

Get them from L.L. Bean for $110 in women's (available in sizes 2–20, plus petite and medium/tall sizes, and two colors) and men's (available in waist sizes 30–46, four inseams, and two colors).

Specifically designed for outdoor activities, these four-way stretch leggings have been treated with an EPA-registered permethrin repellent and feature added UV protection with SPF 50+. They are constructed from a nylon and Lycra spandex blend that's moisture-wicking and breathable. Find them in up to two colors and in both standard and plus sizing.  

Editor's Pick: Meant to adhere directly onto clothes, NatPat's tick-repelling stickers are made with biodegradable bamboo “AromaWeave” fibers, which are infused with geranium, peppermint, thyme, and cedarwood oils and use the smells to repel ticks from around the areas where you place the stickers. 

We first heard about NatPat through our executive editor, Kate Palmer, who has used the stickers with her family. “I live in a very tick-prone part of the country, and my family and I spend a lot of time hiking and gardening. So ticks are my enemy number 1,” she said. “I started using these patches on my kids and myself a few years ago, and they have seemingly worked very well for us. I like that it means we don’t have to douse ourselves in spray, and that you can attach them to your socks and clothing rather than your body. They give me a little more confidence to enjoy the outdoors. Checking for ticks is still a good idea once you’re back inside, though!”

Editor's Pick: Though this naturally soothing balm by Burt's Bees certainly won't protect you from tick exposure or bites, we wanted to include it because of how effective reviewers claim it is for rapidly healing bug bites, along with scrapes, cuts and minor abrasions you might get hiking in nature. This pampering salve contains nourishing vitamin E and lavender oil to soothe and instantly neutralize itching so bites can actually heal.