How to Check for Tick Bites

Ticks are small, blood-sucking insects and members of the spider family.

Getting out in tall grass and woodlands in the spring and summer may be some of the best adventures of your life, but it can also expose you to ticks. The small, parasitic insects latch onto bare skin and clothing and feed on your blood. Ticks carry diseases, so it is important to check for bites following outings where ticks may live.



Ticks live in woody or grassy environments where there is available moisture. Ticks may also thrive on pets, so watch your pets for signs of infestation to keep the pest out of your home.

Things You'll Need

• Mirror
• Tweezers
• Soap
• Water
• Plastic bag

Instructions

1. Wear light-colored clothing with long sleeves and pant legs when you go walking in the woods or along grassy trails. This can allow you see the ticks crawling on your clothes and alert you to check for bites. Carefully check the body if you notice small black dots crawling on your light-colored clothing. Tuck pants legs into socks so the ticks will have a harder time getting on your skin.

2. Use a handheld or full-body mirror to look for ticks if you believe you may have been exposed. Completely disrobe so you can check every area of your body.

3. Check areas of the body where there are skin folds and places for ticks to hide. This will include arm pits, navels, waistlines, under bra straps and bands, the backs of the knees, the bend of the elbow, between the legs and along the area where the elastic band of panties and briefs may ride. Also check areas covered by hair and around the ears with a fine tooth comb.

4. Remove any ticks you find. If the tick is still attached to your body, firmly grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the tick head as you can get. Pull up in a firm and steady manner. Dispose of the tick after it is dead, possibly in a plastic bag for later identification. Clean the bite area with soap and water.

5. Look for small red spots in skin folds and areas where clothing rubs. The red dots could indicate a tick bite. Wash the potential bite with warm soapy water and treat with an ice pack if it is painful. You may use an antihistamine cream if the bite itches.

6. Seek medical attention if you develop flu-like symptoms -- a "bulls-eye" rash or sore muscles.

Tips & Warnings

• Use insect repellent if you plan to be in an area where ticks live. If you don't want to use DEET repellents, use peppermint or rosemary essential oil. Neem oil is another useful repellent.

• Check your pets too. Spray pets with repellent or use flea and tick collars.

• Don't squeeze the middle of the tick. It can push contaminated fluids into your body.

References

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Stop Ticks
• CDC: Tick Removal
• WebMD: Tick Bites
• Cleveland Clinic: Avoiding Tick Bites