What does a tick embedded in human skin look like? - briefly
An attached tick looks like a round, brown‑to‑black bump that may be slightly raised and often resembles a small, engorged papule. Its mouthparts are hidden beneath the skin, leaving only the body visible.
What does a tick embedded in human skin look like? - in detail
A tick that has penetrated the epidermis appears as a small, rounded object firmly anchored to the skin. The head, or capitulum, protrudes forward and is often hidden beneath the skin surface, leaving only the rounded body visible. The body may be flat and light‑brown when unfed, becoming swollen, darker, and balloon‑shaped as it fills with blood. The surrounding skin frequently shows a thin, erythematous ring or a slight raised area that can be mistaken for a simple bite mark.
- Larva (seed tick): 0.5–1 mm in length, pale yellow, translucent, difficult to see without magnification.
- Nymph: 1.5–2 mm, reddish‑brown, still relatively flat, may be mistaken for a small bump.
- Adult female: 3–5 mm unfed, light brown; after feeding expands to 5–10 mm, grayish‑blue, markedly engorged.
- Adult male: 2–3 mm, darker brown, remains relatively flat even when fed.
The engorged abdomen creates a dome‑shaped silhouette that contrasts with the surrounding skin. The tick’s legs, each ending in a claw, are often visible as tiny, pale extensions at the periphery of the body. When the tick is still attached, the capitulum may be visible as a small, dark point protruding from the center of the body; if the mouthparts have been removed, a small puncture wound remains, sometimes surrounded by a faint, concentric ring of redness.
The skin reaction may include a mild swelling that feels firm to the touch. In some cases, a central puncture can be palpated as a tiny, needle‑like projection. The combination of a dome‑shaped, color‑changing body, visible legs, and a central mouthpart projection distinguishes an attached tick from other skin lesions.