Tick Tips

Tick bites cause AGS. In the U.S., most cases are caused by lone star ticks, which are common in the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic United States.

If you have alpha-gal syndrome, it is important to avoid tick bites, because new bites can make your AGS worse. On the other hand, if you avoid new tick bites, you may eventually be able to add mammalian foods back into your diet under the supervision of your allergist.

In the U.S., most AGS cases are caused by lone star tick bites. Lone star ticks are most common in late spring through early fall, but they can be active year-round any time temperatures are above freezing.

Unlike other ticks that quest for hosts, lone star ticks don’t always sit and wait. They hunt you. If you are stationary (e.g. standing, sitting, gardening, picnicking), they will detect your odor and rapidly crawl several yards to find you. Ticks cannot jump or fly.

All stages of lone star ticks can cause AGS. Lone star tick larvae are very tiny and are often confused with chiggers. In summer through early fall, you may encounter swarms of hundreds of larvae. When people receive many larval tick bites at once, this seems to increase their chance of developing AGS. 

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Lone star tick larvae

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This brochure has tips for avoiding ticks bites, with an emphasis on techniques that work against lone star ticks. These techniques have been test driven by tick experts and the AGS community. 

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Tick bite avoidance products

Insect Shield

Commercial permethrin treatment

Tick repellents

Find the Repellent that is Right for You

Additional resources