How should a tick be rotated when removing it from a person: which direction should it be pulled? - briefly
Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine‑point tweezers and apply steady, upward pressure to extract it directly. Rotating or twisting the parasite is unnecessary and can increase the risk of leaving mouthparts embedded.
How should a tick be rotated when removing it from a person: which direction should it be pulled? - in detail
When a tick is attached to human skin, the mouthparts embed deeply into the epidermis. The safest removal method minimizes tearing of the surrounding tissue and reduces the risk of pathogen transmission.
First, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine‑point tweezers or a specialized tick‑removal hook. Do not squeeze the abdomen, which could force infected fluid into the host.
Second, apply a gentle, steady rotation. Turn the tick clockwise (to the right) while maintaining a constant upward traction. This motion disengages the barbed hypostome from the skin without breaking it. The rotation should be smooth; abrupt twists increase the chance of mouthpart fragmentation.
Third, after the tick releases, pull straight upward with the same steady force used during rotation. Avoid jerking or changing direction, as this can cause the mouthparts to stay embedded.
Finally, disinfect the bite area and clean the removal instrument. Preserve the tick in a sealed container if testing is required.
Key steps summarized