So, you got bit by a tick. Here’s exactly what to do next.
Finding a tick attached to your skin can be alarming, but knowing the right steps to seize can significantly reduce your risk of tickborne illness. Prompt and proper removal is critical, as the longer a tick remains attached, the higher the chance it can transmit pathogens like those causing Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, or babesiosis. Here’s what health authorities recommend you do immediately after discovering a tick bite.
Remove the tick promptly and correctly
Do not delay removal to wait for a healthcare provider. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that you should remove the tick as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as you can. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking, which can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, try to remove the mouthparts with tweezers; if you cannot remove them easily, leave them alone and let the skin heal.
After removal, clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or an iodine scrub. Do not use folklore remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat to make the tick detach—these methods are ineffective and may increase infection risk.
Dispose of the tick safely
Once removed, dispose of the live tick by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers, as this could expose you to potentially infectious fluids.
Monitor for symptoms and seek care if needed
Watch for signs of illness in the days and weeks following the bite. Symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint aches, or a rash—particularly an expanding bull’s-eye rash associated with Lyme disease—warrant medical attention. If you develop any of these symptoms, see a healthcare provider and mention your recent tick bite, when it occurred, and where you likely acquired the tick.
Take preventive steps moving forward
To reduce future risk, perform daily tick checks after spending time outdoors, especially in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, which remains protective through several washings. Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks and provides a great opportunity to conduct a tick check.
While most tick bites do not result in illness, taking these steps promptly and correctly is your best defense against tickborne diseases. Stay vigilant, especially during peak tick season from spring through fall, and consult a healthcare provider if you have concerns after a bite.
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