Tick bites can sometimes spread diseases. It's a good idea to check yourself and your kids for ticks after you've been outdoors in tick-infested areas. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it right away. Follow these tips:
3 STEPS TO REMOVE A TICK
1. Use tweezers to grasp the tick close to your skin.
2. Pull the tick upward with steady pressure. Don't twist or tug at it.
3. Clean your hands and the tick bite with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
If you develop a rash or fever in the weeks after removing a tick, see your healthcare provider.
reviewed 4/26/2024
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. “How to Remove a Tick.” https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/How-To-Remove-A-Tick.aspx.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Tick Bite." https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Tick+Bite.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Tick Bite: What to Do." https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/pdfs/FS_TickBite-508.pdf.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Tick Removal and Testing."https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/removal/index.html.