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Everyone seems to have their own trick for removing a tick. Contrary to popular belief, holding a match to the tick, suffocating it with petroleum jelly, or poisoning it with nail polish can make it burrow in more deeply. The correct solution is also the easiest: simply pull it off your skin. Follow these easy steps for removal and the tick will soon be a distant memory.
Steps
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Find the head of the tick. If you look closely, you'll see its mouth attached to the skin, with the body resting behind it. [1] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with a pair of tweezers. Use tweezers with fine tips, rather than blunt ones, to make sure you are able to grasp the tick tightly. [2] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source- Don't try this with your fingers. You won't be able to get a good, tight grip on the tick.
- Make sure you're gripping the tick's head. Get the tweezers as close to the mouth of the tick as possible.
- Do not grasp the tick's body. This can cause it to inject saliva or blood into your skin and increase the chances of transmitting a disease. [3] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Pull firmly and steadily outward. The tick's mouth will release the skin. Do not twist, jerk, or wiggle the tweezers as you pull, or the tick's mouth parts may remain attached to the skin. It's not uncommon for the skin to also pull up as the tick detaches, much like it does when you pluck a stray hair. [4] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
- If the mouth parts remain attached, attempt to remove them with the tweezers. If they're buried in the skin, you can simply let the skin heal, checking it from time to time to make sure it doesn't become infected. [5] X Research source
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Wash with warm water and soap. You can also use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine. Clean both the bite and your hands thoroughly. [6] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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See a doctor if you have trouble removing the tick. Some ticks are so small that they're difficult to remove using this common method. A doctor will be able to remove the tick for you. [7] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Cut a length of floss. Choose a thin, unwaxed floss, or another type of thin string. This does the trick if you don't have tweezers on hand. [8] X Research source
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Loop the string around the tick's head. The string should lie as close to the skin as possible. [9] X Research source
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Pull the ends of the string upward in a slow, steady motion. The tick's mouth will release the skin. [11] X Research source
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Wash with warm water and soap. Clean both the bite and your hands. Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine can also be used to help prevent infection and the spreading of tick-borne disease. [12] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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1Cut a V-shape into the card. Using a pair of scissors, cut a small V-shape along the edge of the card. It should be large enough to grab the tick, but not so large that the tick slips through.
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Slide a credit card next to the tick's head. Slide the credit card between your skin and the tick, aligning the V-cut with the tick's head. [13] X Research source
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Firmly hold the back of the tick in place. [14] X Research source
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Slide the credit card along your skin and under the head. After a few tries, the tick should come out whole. [15] X Research source
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Dispose of the tick properly. The tick will probably still be alive when you remove it. You can soak it in rubbing alcohol or flush it down the toilet to prevent it from attaching itself to you or your loved ones. [16] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
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Consider saving the tick for testing. If ticks in your area are known to frequently carry Lyme disease, you might want to save the tick in case you need to get it tested. Place it in a plastic food storage bag, seal the bag, then put it in the freezer. Find a lab that does tick testing and follow instructions for properly submitting the tick. [17] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
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Check the wound site for symptoms. In the weeks following the tick removal, check the site for signs that you may have contracted Lyme Disease or another tick-borne illness. You'll need to tell your doctor when you noticed the tick, when you removed it, and what subsequent symptoms you’re experiencing. If you notice the following symptoms developing, see a doctor immediately: [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- A fever and/or chills. This is a common symptom of tick-borne illnesses.
- Headaches and muscle aches.
- The tell-tale bulls-eye rash. This is a symptom of Lyme disease as well as Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI). Red patches create a bulls-eye pattern around the site of the tick bite, so watch out for this. [19] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
- Any other type of rash. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), also carried by ticks, can cause a rash that does not look like a bulls-eye to appear. [20] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I treat my dog for ticks?Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.The same methods mentioned above will work for any pet. If you need further assistance, call your vet and they can guide you through the process.
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QuestionWhy can't I twist the tick when removing it?Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.More than a slight twist of the tick may cause the head of the tick to stay embedded in the skin.
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Tips
- Keep your lawn trimmed short to prevent ticks. They like shaded areas. [21] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
- Take a shower after going through large areas of shady grass, in case you aren't sure if you have any ticks on you. Then, examine yourself, your family, and your pets. [22] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
- If you are bitten, write down the date. It is possible to catch Lyme disease without noticing it right away. In some cases, symptoms emerge up to a year after the bite. If you write down the date, a doctor can take this into account when diagnosing you, as Lyme disease can become chronic after a period of time. You should also be aware of ongoing symptoms that persist even after a first round of treatment, since you may be experiencing post-Lyme disease syndrome. [23] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Do not attempt to suffocate the tick with petroleum jelly or nail polish. This can make the tick hold onto your skin more tightly. [25] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceThanks
- Do not try to remove a tick by holding a match to it; this can cause the tick to burrow more deeply into your skin. [26] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceThanks
- Do not try to pull the tick off with your hands. It might leave the head embedded in your skin, which can lead to infection. [27] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Tweezers or string
- Cotton ball
- Rubbing alcohol
References
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7234-tick-bites
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7234-tick-bites
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tick-bites-sheet.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-tick-bites/basics/art-20056671
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1580/1080-6032(2002)013%5B0181:LTTE%5D2.0.CO;2
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1580/1080-6032(2002)013%5B0181:LTTE%5D2.0.CO;2
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1580/1080-6032(2002)013%5B0181:LTTE%5D2.0.CO;2
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1580/1080-6032(2002)013%5B0181:LTTE%5D2.0.CO;2
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/
- ↑ https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/removal/
- ↑ https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/removal/
- ↑ https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/removal/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/matchless-strategy-for-tick-removal-6-steps-to-avoid-tick-bites-201306076360
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/bites/remove-a-tick
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-tick-bites/basics/art-20056671
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/about/index.html
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17838-rocky-mountain-spotted-fever
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7234-tick-bites
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7234-tick-bites
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11586-lyme-disease
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/causes/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7234-tick-bites
About This Article
Article Summary
X
The easiest and safest way to remove a tick is using tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the head as possible with the tweezers, right where it’s attached to your skin. Don’t squeeze with the tweezers or you could push the contents of the tick’s stomach into the wound. Swiftly pull the tick straight out of your skin and dispose of it in a sealed bag. You can also flush it down the toilet. Clean the bite with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should avoid using other remedies like heat, nail polish, or petroleum jelly to remove a tick. If you develop a fever or rash within a few weeks after removing the tick, make an appointment to meet with your doctor. Keep reading to learn tips from our medical reviewer on how to use floss to remove a tick!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Thanks for the article. We live in Spain and during June, July and August we have water lines running through our crops, so we have lots of ticks. They often get on our dogs and cats despite them being treated. At least once a day we make inspections of our pets and any ticks are removed, usually using our hands with sharp nails! When we lived in Ireland the way to remove ticks was to drip methylated spirits on them using a match stalk to drip it on them!" ..." more
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"Thanks for the article. We live in Spain and during June, July and August we have water lines running through our crops, so we have lots of ticks. They often get on our dogs and cats despite them being treated. At least once a day we make inspections of our pets and any ticks are removed, usually using our hands with sharp nails! When we lived in Ireland the way to remove ticks was to drip methylated spirits on them using a match stalk to drip it on them!"
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"I have had Lymes four times. We have a lot of deer ticks and I find them often. Getting a tick completely out can be very hard. The floss is the first thing I tried that worked well. This is by far the best article on removing ticks that I have seen. "
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"My puppy had a tick on his leg. I thought it was a skin tag. He acted completely normal until I touched the tick and then he pulled back. There was no swelling or obvious symptoms for anything abnormal. Thanks for your help. I used tweezers."
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"I combined the tweezer pull with sliding a thin object (a nail file instead of credit card) at the base. Most tweezers tend to squeeze whole body vs. just the head, so the sliding object at the base encouraged the tick to let go. Thanks!"
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"I tried the credit card method and it worked perfectly. Once I determined I was sliding towards its side (which seems to be key), it came out cleanly. I had never heard of this method before, but it works great. Thank you for the tip!"
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