Tick Bites: Prevention, Safe Removal, and When to Seek Care

Ahhh…summertime. Cookouts with family and friends, taking camping trips, kids playing outdoors, and of course, doing yardwork.

An uninvited nasty pest can come along on those outdoor activities, though – ticks. 

Before you head outside, know how to prevent bites, remove a tick safely, and recognize when to see a doctor.

Preventing Tick Bites

There are steps you can take to reduce your exposure to ticks:

• Be aware of where ticks live – in grassy, bushy or wooded areas and also may live on your pet. While a myth exists that ticks have to fall on you from a tree, you can get ticks from walking in your own yard. 
• Avoid them by walking in the center of the trail when walking on trails. When possible, avoid wooded, brush-filled areas with high grass and leaves. Ticks hide in these areas and latch onto you around your ankles and legs, then crawl upwards.

Dr. Robert Frost, a family physician with HSHS Medical Group, recently shared prevention tips. He said, “If it’s possible, try to avoid where ticks are, such as where there is a lot of brushy growth or digging in old leaf litter when you are cleaning up your yard. Since that is not always possible, treat your shoes and pants with a repellent.”

• Treat your clothing with clothing repellents containing 0.5% permethrin. 
  • You can treat your boots, clothing and camping gear, but do not apply directly to your skin.
  • Some outdoor clothes and gear can be purchased already treated with permethrin.
  • Use an EPA-registered insect repellent for your skin, always following product instructions.
  • Check out the EPA repellent search tool which can help you choose the right repellent for your needs. 
• Look for them: 
  • On your clothes - When you come back inside, immediately remove your clothing and check it for ticks. Remove any that are found. Examine any gear like backpacks as well. 
    • Dr. Frost shared, “Probably one of the most important things to do as soon as you step into your house from the outdoors where you might have been exposed to ticks is to immediately take off your clothes. If you put them in the dryer at a high setting by themselves, it will kill all the ticks in about 10 minutes.” For damp or wet clothes, increase dryer time to one hour. 
  • On your pets – Ticks can ride into your home on your pet, then attach to a person later. Carefully examine your pet for any signs of ticks.
  • On you and your child – Showering within two hours of coming indoors is a good way to discover and remove ticks, as well as reduce your risk of tickborne illnesses.

According to Dr. Frost, “Wash your hair with shampoo and wash your entire body with soap and water. I would also recommend scrubbing well with a washcloth. That way, you can get off the very small ticks that can be hard to see.”

Check all parts of your body and your child for ticks, including underarms, ears, belly button, behind knees, between legs, waist, hair and scalp. 

To view all parts of your body, use a hand-held or full-length mirror.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a good source for prevention tips.

Removing a Tick Safely

If you find a tick attached to you, remove it as soon as possible. Take these steps to remove and dispose of the tick: 

1. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible using clean fine-tipped tweezers or your fingers if you do not have tweezers available. Grip the tick as close to your skin as possible, right where its mouthparts meet the skin, to avoid squeezing its body.
2. Pull the tick with steady, even pressure. Don’t jerk or twist it out as it may cause the tick’s mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, do not be alarmed – your body will expel those over time.
3. Dispose of the tick by either flushing it down the toilet, wrapping it tightly in tape, or placing it in a sealed container with alcohol. Do not try to crush the tick with your fingers as it can increase your risk of being exposed to tickborne illnesses.
4. Thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
5. Avoid home “remedies” (heat, petroleum jelly, nail polish) to try to get the tick to “release”. This may agitate the tick, forcing infected fluid from the tick into your skin.

Watching for Tick Bite Symptoms

Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases. Some of the more well-known in the Midwest are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Ehrlichiosis. 

Alpha-gal Syndrome

A lesser known but still prevalent disease is Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), which can develop from a bite from a lone star tick. “Alpha-gal syndrome can cause allergic reactions when consuming any product from mammals including meat and dairy,” Dr. Frost explained. “In addition, gelatin and other additives in food and medicines can cause allergic reactions.  For this reason, it is very important medical providers and pharmacists know if you have alpha-gal.” Dr. Frost shares this syndrome and signs to watch for in this video. 

It can be difficult to know when a tick might have attached itself. If a tick is removed after being attached for less than 24-36 hours, there is a lower risk of developing Lyme disease.

In most cases, follow-up treatment by your doctor is not necessary. 

However, watch for any of these symptoms in the weeks following a tick bite:

• Rash
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint swelling and pain

Addressing Tick Bite Concerns

If you're concerned about a tick bite or want to talk through prevention for your family, check with your doctor or find an HSHS primary care provider near you. Treatment depends on risk factors and symptoms. 

The CDC has a tick bite guide interactive tool to help individuals with removing attached ticks and determining when to seek healthcare, if appropriate after a tick bite.

Being aware of tick prevention and safe removal tips as well as when to seek care will help you “fight the bite” this summer. 

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.