What do bites from domestic ticks look like on a person's body? - briefly
A tick bite typically appears as a small, red or pink raised spot, often surrounded by a clear halo, with the tick’s mouthparts sometimes visible as a tiny dark dot at the centre. If the lesion expands, it may develop a concentric ring pattern resembling a bullseye.
What do bites from domestic ticks look like on a person's body? - in detail
Tick attachment creates a small, firm, raised area on the skin. The initial mark often appears as a pinpoint puncture surrounded by a slightly raised halo, resembling a tiny, dark button. As the tick feeds, the surrounding skin may swell, forming a circular, erythematous patch up to several centimeters in diameter. The center of the lesion can remain pale or remain the color of the tick’s abdomen, while the periphery shows redness that may be uniform or exhibit a gradient from the bite site outward.
Typical characteristics include:
- A smooth, dome‑shaped elevation at the attachment point, sometimes described as a “bull’s‑eye” pattern with a red outer ring and a lighter inner zone.
- Presence of the tick’s body or mouthparts protruding from the skin, often visible as a dark brown or black speck.
- Localized itching or mild tenderness, which may increase as the feeding period progresses.
- Absence of bleeding in most cases; the feeding apparatus seals the puncture, preventing obvious blood loss.
Common anatomical locations are areas where the skin is thin or exposed, such as the scalp, neck, armpits, groin, and the flexor surfaces of the elbows and knees. Bites on the torso or limbs frequently present as isolated lesions, while multiple attachment sites can produce several similar marks scattered across the body.
After the tick detaches, the central puncture may fade, leaving a faint scar or a small, brownish spot. In some instances, a rash may develop around the bite, ranging from a simple erythema to a more extensive, annular lesion. Persistent redness, expanding borders, or systemic symptoms such as fever, headache, or muscle aches warrant medical evaluation, as they can indicate transmission of tick‑borne pathogens.