Ticks are a small, spider-like parasites that consume the blood of their hosts. It's estimated that ticks and tick bites have increased over 100% since 2020 alone.
Tick-borne illnesses are a serious and growing issue. Ticks spread bacteria and other parasites that can spread diseases, so it's important to know what to do when you find a tick latched onto you.
Here's what to do:
1. Check for ticks often
Tick bites are painless. And ticks like to crawl into hard to see areas, so it's best to thoroughly check for ticks after spending time outdoors so that you can spot them right away.
Note: some tick-borne diseases can be spread within a matter of hours after being bitten.
Be sure to thoroughly check in these areas:
- Head and hair
- Armpits
- Around the ears
- Between legs
2. Remove the tick quickly and carefully
Use a pair of tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull the tick upward with a steady pressure. The goal is to not pull tick apart, since broken off mouth parts can still pass along diseases.
DO NOT: Don't try to burn the tick off with a match or suffocate it with petroleum jelly. These techniques aren't as effective and allow the tick to remain on longer.
3. Take a picture of the tick (or save the tick if you develop symptoms)
Should any symptoms arise, your healthcare provider will need to know what kind of tick bit you to determine the potential infections
It is common to get a slight irritation or small rash at the site of a tick bite, even if no disease was contracted.
4. Dispose of the tick
After removing the tick, clean the bite area with alcohol. Dispose of the tick in a sealed bag, wrapped in tape, or flushed down the toilet.
Do not handle the tick with bare hands or try to crush the tick.
When to contact a healthcare professional:
- If you develop any flu-like systems after a tick bite
- You were bitten by a deer tick
- The bite area develops a larger rash (the iconic bullseye rash is a symptom of Lyme disease)
For a more detailed list of diseases and their symptoms, see our article on tick-borne diseases.