Permethrin and underwear?

[weaver2469]

I am getting ready to treat my clothes with permethrin. I love the stuff, and it worked well for me last year, but I don't remember if I sprayed underwear or not. Do you spray underwear? It is allegedly safe for pants and shirts when dry, so I can't imagine why underwear wouldn't work, but it seems a little scary somehow. My thought is that any ticks that wanted to wander up legs to find a home in the nether regions may crawl under contact with shorts. A somewhat tighter fitting leg of a boxer brief would really form a tick barrier. Generally speaking, I am more afraid of ticks than chemicals, but I would appreciate your thoughts.

[Dead Man]

I would think it should be safe. The likelihood of them going past properly treated pants, shirt, etc. to "the nether region" would be negligable IMHO.

Go for it...just let the rest of us know if your junk drops out the bottom of your trouser on the trail mid hike.

[nyhiker50]

Why would you spray your underwear? For chiggers maybe? It's only meant to be used on outer clothing, not really next to the skin. I would just spray everything else. As for chiggers, they would be repelled from the outside spraying on the clothing. ticks in most cases would try to go as high as possible, but getting past pants would be hard. If you're really worried, just tuck in your socks.

[dangerous]

I use Permethrin all the time on my military uniforms. The treatment systmes we get issued specifically state that it is for outerwear only. It specifially says not to treat headwear. I have never treated socks or underwear either but I always treat my t-shirts.

[Boothill]

subscribing........just for it's potential to be "thread of the year"

boot

[dangerous]

taken from treatment manual
• To avoid adverse health reactions, do not treat underwear or
caps/hats. Do not allow permethrin to contact your face or
eyes and try not to breathe in spray vapors. Wear rubber
gloves when handling wet, treated uniforms and when
mixing permethrin solutions. Permethrin can be very toxic to
fish and aquatic organisms; do not let excess permethrin
contaminate local water sources.

http://deploymenthealthlibrary.fhp.o...ile?prodId=242

[FLRider]

The Sawyer brand treatments say specifically not to treat underwear in the warnings section of the container label.

That being said, I always try to get the bottom cuffs and waistband on my compression shorts. Neither of those is going to be pressing against a mucous membrane (which is what I think is the issue; otherwise, you wouldn't be able to treat the cuffs on your shirt or pants, or the shoulder area on your shirt, seeing as how those press against your skin regardless), so I feel pretty safe about it.

No ticks or chiggers in...delicate...spots yet...

[ataris121]

you dont want it on anything thats going to be in constant skin contact. especially if sweat from that area will get in a sensitive area. so no to underwear, socks, and hats. a note on hats----you can treat the brim of a boonie cap and a dot in the center of the top but vaod the headband at all costs. the chemical burn that results is painful

[weaver2469]

you dont want it on anything thats going to be in constant skin contact. especially if sweat from that area will get in a sensitive area. so no to underwear, socks, and hats. a note on hats----you can treat the brim of a boonie cap and a dot in the center of the top but vaod the headband at all costs. the chemical burn that results is painful

I have never heard a warning about socks. I have always worn treated socks as my primary tick defense. Did you have a bad sock reaction?

[MAD777]

I always heavily treat my socks. I figure that is where ticks start their journey. Never had a problem.