Buzz
There are many ways people attempt to remove ticks. However, conventional methods such as pressing a matchstick onto the tick, submerging it in mineral oil, or using nail polish to poison it only cause the tick to burrow deeper into your skin. The most accurate and simplest solution is to pull it out. Follow the simple steps outlined in this article to safely remove a tick from your skin.
Steps
Use Tweezers
Locate the tick's head. If you look closely, you'll see that its mouth is attached to your skin, and its body is positioned behind it.
Use tweezers to grab the tick, ensuring the tweezer's tip is as close to the skin as possible. Use tweezers with sharp tips, not blunt ones, to ensure a secure grip on the tick.
- Avoid using your hands to remove the tick. You won’t be able to grasp it firmly enough.
- Be sure to grip the tick’s head tightly. Position the tweezers as close to the tick’s mouthparts as possible.
- Don’t grab the tick’s body. Doing so can cause the tick to inject saliva or blood into your skin, increasing the risk of infection.
Apply a firm, steady pull to remove the tick from the skin. The tick will release its mouthparts from your skin. Avoid twisting, jerking, or shaking the tweezers, as this may cause the tick's mouthparts to stay attached. After removal, the skin may swell slightly, similar to when you pluck a hair.
- If any part of the tick's mouth remains embedded in your skin, try using the tweezers to remove it. If the part is deeply embedded, you may let your skin heal on its own, but be sure to check the area regularly for signs of infection.
Clean the bite area with soap and water. You can also apply rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine to the affected area. Be sure to wash both the tick bite and your hands thoroughly.
Seek medical help if you have trouble removing the tick from your skin. Some ticks are so tiny that they can be difficult to remove using standard methods. A doctor will be able to assist you in safely removing the tick from your skin.
Use dental floss
Cut a piece of dental floss. Choose a thin, unwaxed floss or another similar thin string. This method will help you remove the tick when you don't have tweezers available.
Loop the string around the tick’s head. Try to position the string as close to the skin as possible.
Tighten the loop around the tick’s head. Use both hands to pull the string tightly.
Slowly and steadily pull both ends of the string upwards. The tick will release its mouthparts.
Wash the bite area with warm water and soap. Thoroughly clean both the tick bite area and your hands. You can apply rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine to the bite to prevent infection and reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases such as encephalitis.
Use a Credit Card
Cut a small V-shaped notch along the edge of the card. Use scissors to create a small V-shaped cut along the card’s edge. The notch should be wide enough to hold the tick but not so wide that the tick can slip through.
Position the credit card (or bank card) near the tick’s head.
Hold the tick’s body firmly with your fingers.
Push the credit card under the tick’s head. After a few attempts, the tick will be removed from the skin.
Next Steps
Properly dispose of the tick. Even after removing the tick from your skin, it might still be alive. You can either soak the tick in rubbing alcohol or flush it down the toilet, making sure to flush it with water to prevent the tick from attaching to you or a loved one later.
Consider keeping the tick for testing. If ticks in your area are known to carry Lyme disease, after removing a tick, you should keep it in case you need it for testing. Place the tick in a sealed plastic bag and store it in the freezer. Then, search for a lab that specializes in tick testing and follow their instructions for sending the tick for analysis.
Monitor for symptoms. A few weeks after tick removal, watch for any signs of Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis. Be ready to inform your doctor about when you first noticed the tick, when it was removed, and any symptoms you are experiencing. If you notice any of the following, seek medical attention immediately:
- Fever and/or chills. This is a common symptom of tick-borne encephalitis.
- Headaches and muscle aches.
- A bull's-eye rash (a red ring surrounding a red center) on your skin. This is a sign of Lyme disease and Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI).
- Any other type of red rash. Rashes caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), another tick-borne disease, might appear, but these rashes are not shaped like a bull's-eye.
Advice
- After removing the tick from your skin, check for any swelling around the bite area. If the area becomes infected, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
- Inspect your pet for any signs of ticks.
- Trim the grass in your garden to prevent tick infestations. Ticks typically prefer shaded areas.
- If a tick attaches to your skin, try to remove it as quickly as possible.
- Prompt tick removal after a bite significantly reduces the risk of infection. If a tick stays attached for less than 24 hours, the likelihood of contracting Lyme disease is low.
Warning
- Avoid using your hands to pull the tick off your skin. This could cause the tick's head to remain embedded, leading to infection.
- Do not attempt to suffocate the tick by applying mineral oil. This will only cause the tick to cling more firmly to your skin.
- Refrain from using a matchstick to try and remove the tick, as this will cause the tick to burrow deeper into your skin.
What You Will Need
- Tweezers or thread
- Cotton balls
- Rubbing alcohol
