The Dos and Don’ts of Tick Bites

How to Safely Treat a Tick Bite

If you’re planning on spending any time in the woods or in tall grass this summer, there’s a good chance you’ve already thought about tick bites. But do you know what to do if you find yourself with one of these unfortunate summer ailments? Do you know what not to do? Let’s take a look.

Don’t: Use Heat to Remove the Tick

You may have heard that applying a little heat to a live tick bite will cause the tick to panic and wedge itself out. Seems logical at first — until you know that this is not a safe or effective way to remove a tick.

Here’s why: First, if you place heat on or near your skin you could accidentally burn yourself. Aside from the injury risk, ticks don’t respond to heat the way you might think; rather than flee from the heat, they may actually inject infected saliva into your bloodstream, making it even likelier you’ll get sick.

Using tweezers to remove a tick remains the safest, most effective extraction method. But there’s a right and a wrong way to do that, too.

Do: Gently Pull Rather Than Twist

Gentleness is the name of the game when it comes to removing a tick with tweezers. Twisting, scraping or yanking it can cause the mouthparts to break and remain embedded in the skin. (Most of the time your body will eventually reject those on its own, but there is still a chance of infection.)

When it’s time for removal, take your tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the head as possible. Slowly pull the tick out. After disposing of it (more on that later), wash the affected area with rubbing alcohol or, if that’s not available, a little soap and water.

Do: Dispose of It Properly

Pause before tossing the tick in the trash (or putting it back outside); it may still be alive and if it’s not disposed of properly, it could continue to pose a risk to you, your family or your pets.

Consider one of the following disposal methods instead:

• Place it in a small amount of rubbing alcohol to kill it
• Put it in a sealed container and toss it in the trash
• Flush it down the toilet

If you want to be extra cautious, after killing the tick, take quick picture of it in case your care team needs to identify it later.

Don’t: Use Caution Only in the Summer

You may think ticks only strike in the summertime. It makes sense; after all, most of us have only ever seen a tick crawling where it shouldn’t when the weather’s warm.

However, ticks are active at all times of the year, with certain types (like deer ticks) on the prowl even in the fall and winter. That means you need to take the appropriate precautions whenever spending extended periods in tick hotspots.

Some proactive tick-safety steps you can take at all times of the year include:

• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easy to see ticks
• Apply bug repellent, especially those that contain DEET
• Stay on main trails when out hiking or walking in the woods
• Wear long sleeves and pants to limit skin exposure

As always, once you get home make sure to check yourself, your kids and your pets for ticks in the areas they like to congregate, especially the groin, behind the knees and near the ankles.

Do: See a Doctor If You Have Concerning Symptoms

Tick bites are treatable at home and usually don’t require a visit to your primary care provider (though you should still notify your doctor if you had an engorged deer tick, even if you don’t have other symptoms, as the risk of infection is higher).

However, if you develop any of the following in the days or weeks after a tick bite, you could have a more serious condition that warrants medical attention:

• Fever
• Chills
• New rash
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Swelling
• Bull’s eye rash

If you experience any of the above, give your primary care doctor a call. (The CDC’s Tick Guide can help you self-triage.) Give them as much information as you can about your bite, including when and where it happened, and share an image if you have one. They will direct you to the appropriate care setting.

Tick bites are a common summertime ailment, but there’s a right and a wrong way to handle them. Practice the above guidance so you and your family can enjoy the outdoors without getting a tick-borne illness.