How does a tick lesion look? - briefly
A tick bite usually presents as a small, red papule with a central punctum indicating the attachment site, sometimes surrounded by a faint halo or evolving into a target‑shaped rash. The lesion is typically painless and can remain visible for several days.
How does a tick lesion look? - in detail
A tick bite typically presents as a small, red papule at the attachment site. The central point often corresponds to the tick’s mouthparts and may appear as a pinpoint punctum. Surrounding erythema can be uniform or exhibit a target‑like pattern, especially in early Lyme disease, where the lesion expands to a diameter of 5–10 cm with a clear central clearing.
Key visual features include:
- Size: initial papule 2–5 mm; later erythema migrans may exceed 10 cm.
- Shape: round, oval, or irregular; occasionally annular with concentric rings.
- Color: pink to bright red; later stages may show dusky or brownish hues.
- Border: well‑defined in early lesions; becomes indistinct as the area enlarges.
- Central punctum: often persists as a tiny, dark spot marking the feeding site.
In some cases, the reaction evolves into a vesicular or bullous formation, producing fluid‑filled blisters around the bite. Necrotic lesions may develop, characterized by a blackened core surrounded by erythema, indicating possible infection with Rickettsia spp.
Progression follows a typical timeline: within 24–48 hours, inflammation peaks; over several days, the lesion may enlarge or resolve spontaneously if the tick is removed promptly. Persistent or expanding erythema beyond two weeks warrants medical evaluation for vector‑borne diseases.