How to Get Rid of Ticks on People

Ticks are more commonly found in woody, grassy areas.

Ticks are microscopic creatures that can cause a lot of problems for their human bite victims. While not all varieties of ticks are dangerous, some like the deer tick can carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Unlike bees or mosquitoes, ticks cause nearly no sensation when they bite down on their human host --- and that can make it difficult to spot them. Fortunately, when a tick is spotted, it is easily removed with common household items.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-point tweezers
• Cloth or tissue
• Sealable container
• Alcohol
• Antiseptic

Instructions

1. Grab the tick firmly by its head using a pair of fine-point tweezers. Do not grab the tick by its body. If no tweezers are available, a piece of cloth or tissue can suffice. Get as close to the skin as possible, but avoid touching the tick directly, as it can transfer disease.

2. Pull the tick outward from the skin. Make one quick motion, and avoid turning or twisting the tick.

3. Conserve the tick by placing it in a sealable container. If symptoms of Lyme disease or another illness develop, it can help to know what type of tick was found. You can first kill the trick by dropping it into alcohol.

4. Clean the bite area with an antiseptic.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the tick is removed, monitor the area for signs of Lyme disease and other illnesses. It can take three to 30 days for a rash to develop as a result of a tick bite.

References

• American Lyme Disease Foundation: Lyme Disease
• Illinois Department of Public Health: Common Ticks
• Kids Health: Tick Bites Instruction Sheet
• Missouri Department of Conservation: Ticks!

Resources

• Mayo Clinic: Lyme Disease