How to Remove Ticks Without Tweezers

Ticks should be removed as quickly as possible.

Ticks are small, biting insects that adhere to the skin of people and pets alike in order to feed. The most dangerous part of being bitten by a tick is the chance of contracting Lyme disease, although it is important to remember that not all ticks are infected. One of the most effective ways of removing a tick is with a pair of tweezers, but these may not always be available.

Things You'll Need

• Forceps or smooth pliers
• Gloves
• Jar of alcohol

Instructions

1. Put gloves on to remove the tick. Removal should not be attempted with bare hands, as the tick can easily latch on to the person trying to remove it or release toxins into the bare skin. Latex or surgical gloves will work well, protecting the hands while not interfering with movement.

2. Find a tool to replace the tweezers. Use needle-nosed pliers or forceps. The head of the tool should be small enough to grip the tick without crushing it, and the inside should be smooth to keep from tearing the body and releasing toxins.

3. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible, gently, not squeezing hard enough to crush the insect. When ticks bite, they latch onto the victim with mouthparts; different types of ticks have different types of bites, and holding the tick as close as possible to the skin will help remove the tick without leaving pieces behind.

4. Draw the tick out of the skin with a smooth, gentle motion, continuing to be careful not to squeeze the tick. As long as there is a connection between the tick and the skin, infection can be passed into the body and will be released if the tick's body is squeezed. Be sure the movement is straight and along the same angle at which the tick's body is positioned to prevent breaking and tearing.

5. Place the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it.

6. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and apply a disinfectant solution in case there is the presence of any type of bacteria. It may be necessary to also remove the mouthparts of the tick; if these parts are left behind, this does not increase the likelihood of infection.

Tips & Warnings

• Wait until after the tick has been removed to put disinfectant on; early application can result in the irritation of the tick and transfer of bacteria.

• There are a number of folk remedies for the removal of ticks, and many of them do not work. Some, including using soap to get the tick to let go or burning the tick off will increase the likelihood of infection by prolonging the amount of time the tick is attached and the trauma to the tick's body.

References

• American Lyme Disease Foundation; Lyme Disease; April 2010
• Medscape Reference; Tick Removal; Steven Brett Sloan, MD
• American Academy of Family Physicians; Tick Removal; Matthew Gammons M.D., et al., August 15, 2002