What does a tick bite on a human’s head look like? - briefly
The bite appears as a small, red, raised bump, often surrounded by a faint pale halo. The attachment site may show a tiny dark dot where the tick’s mouthparts entered the skin.
What does a tick bite on a human’s head look like? - in detail
A tick attached to the scalp usually appears as a small, dome‑shaped nodule embedded in the skin. The base of the arthropod is often hidden, leaving only the anterior mouthparts (the hypostome) visible as a tiny, dark puncture at the center of the lesion. The surrounding skin may be slightly raised, reddish, and may feel warm to the touch.
During the early feeding stage (first 24–48 hours), the bite site is often a faint, flat, pinkish spot about 2–5 mm in diameter. As the tick expands, the lesion enlarges to 5–10 mm and can become more pronounced, sometimes forming a target‑like pattern: a central dark dot (the mouthparts), a surrounding reddish ring, and an outer pale halo.
If the tick remains attached for several days, its body swells with blood, becoming visibly larger—up to 1 cm or more. The engorged tick may be difficult to see among hair, but careful inspection can reveal a raised, gray‑brown mass protruding from the scalp. The surrounding area can develop a pronounced erythema, occasional itching, or mild swelling.
Potential complications include:
- Localized redness extending beyond the bite margin
- Small ulceration or scab formation if the mouthparts are removed improperly
- Development of a rash (e.g., erythema migrans) days to weeks later, indicating possible infection
Because hair can conceal the attachment, thorough examination of the entire head—especially the hairline, behind the ears, and the nape—should be performed after outdoor exposure. Removal of the tick with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling steadily, often eliminates the lesion within days, leaving only a minor, fading puncture mark.