How to distinguish a skin tick? - briefly
A skin tick appears as a small, round, brown or reddish parasite firmly attached to the skin, often with a clear, bulging abdomen that expands after feeding; unlike a simple spot or rash, it has legs and a mouthpart visible at the point of attachment. If you can see a tiny, six‑legged creature or a dark, raised bump with a visible head, it is most likely a tick.
How to distinguish a skin tick? - in detail
A tick attached to the skin appears as a small, rounded or oval body that may be flat when unfed and become engorged after feeding. The abdomen enlarges, often taking on a reddish‑brown hue, while the head (capitulum) remains visible as a pointed structure inserted into the epidermis. The ventral side frequently shows a pair of eyespots and sensory organs.
Key visual traits include:
- Size ranging from 1 mm (larva) to 15 mm (engorged adult).
- Dark brown to gray‑black coloration before engorgement; bright red or pink when swollen.
- A clear demarcation between the body and the mouthparts, which may protrude from the skin surface.
- Presence of a small, often translucent, area around the insertion site that can be mistaken for a rash but is actually a feeding cavity.
To examine a suspected specimen, follow these steps:
- Clean the area with antiseptic solution.
- Use a magnifying lens or dermatoscope to view the attachment point.
- Look for the tick’s scutum (hard shield) on the dorsal side; this plate is absent in larval stages but present in nymphs and adults.
- Identify the legs—four pairs extending from the underside—distinguishing the organism from a simple skin lesion.
Differential diagnosis:
- Spider bite: typically produces a puncture wound with localized swelling and possible necrotic center; lacks the distinct body and legs of a tick.
- Scabies mite: manifests as burrows or tiny raised lines; mites are microscopic and do not form a visible engorged mass.
- Fungal infection: presents as circular, erythematous plaques with scaling; no protruding mouthparts are observed.
- Insect sting: results in a raised, erythematous papule; no attached organism is visible.
When a tick is confirmed, removal should be performed with fine‑pointed tweezers or a tick‑removal tool, grasping as close to the skin as possible, pulling upward with steady pressure, and avoiding crushing the body. After extraction, disinfect the bite site and monitor for signs of infection or tick‑borne illness.