What do skin ticks look like on humans? - briefly
Attached ticks appear as small, rounded or oval bumps, typically brown or reddish, with a distinct outline of the engorged body and a visible mouthpart protruding from the skin. After feeding they may enlarge, becoming smooth and balloon‑like, often resembling a tiny pea.
What do skin ticks look like on humans? - in detail
Skin ticks that attach to a person are small, rounded arthropods whose visible characteristics change as they feed.
The unfed stage, known as a larva, measures 0.5–1 mm in length, appears pale or translucent, and has six legs. After a blood meal, the nymph grows to 1–2 mm, darkens to a reddish‑brown hue, and develops eight legs. The adult stage reaches 2–5 mm, sometimes up to 10 mm for certain species, and displays a deep brown or black coloration with a flattened, oval body.
Key visual cues include:
- Body shape – smooth, dome‑shaped when not engorged; becomes balloon‑like and distended after feeding.
- Leg count – six legs in larvae, eight legs in nymphs and adults; legs are short and positioned near the anterior edge.
- Mouthparts – a pair of barbed, needle‑like structures (hypostome) that protrude from the front when the tick is attached.
- Color shift – pale to reddish in early stages, darkening to deep brown or black as blood fills the body.
- Attachment site – often found in warm, moist areas such as the scalp, armpits, groin, behind knees, and waistline; the tick may be partially hidden under hair or skin folds.
When engorged, the tick’s size may increase three‑fold, and the abdomen becomes visibly swollen, sometimes resembling a small grape. The surface remains smooth, lacking obvious segmentation, and the legs may appear retracted into the body.
Recognition relies on observing the combination of size, leg number, color, and the characteristic mouthpart protrusion. Accurate identification assists in timely removal and reduces the risk of disease transmission.