What should I do if a tick is crawling on my body? - briefly
If a tick is attached to your skin, grasp it with fine‑point tweezers as close to the mouth as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure; then disinfect the bite site and wash your hands. Monitor the area for signs of infection or rash and seek medical advice if symptoms develop.
What should I do if a tick is crawling on my body? - in detail
When a tick is found on the skin, act promptly to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
First, expose the area completely. Use a pair of fine‑pointed tweezers, not your fingers, to avoid crushing the parasite. Grasp the tick as close to the epidermis as possible, at the point where its head enters the skin. Apply steady, even pressure and pull upward in a straight line. Do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the body, as this can inject saliva and increase pathogen exposure.
After removal, place the tick in a sealed container with alcohol or a zip‑lock bag for identification if needed. Clean the bite site with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic such as povidone‑iodine or alcohol. Wash your hands thoroughly.
Monitor the area for several weeks. Look for erythema, a rash expanding from the bite, fever, fatigue, joint pain, or flu‑like symptoms. If any of these appear, seek medical evaluation promptly. Inform the clinician of the tick encounter, the species if known, and the duration of attachment, as these factors influence treatment decisions.
Additional precautions:
- Perform a full-body inspection after outdoor activities, especially in wooded or grassy environments.
- Remove ticks from clothing, hair, and pets using the same technique.
- Wash clothing and gear in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and tumble dry on high heat for at least 10 minutes.
- Consider using tick‑repellent clothing treated with permethrin and applying EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin.
- In high‑risk regions, discuss prophylactic antibiotics with a healthcare provider if a tick remains attached for more than 36 hours.
Following these steps reduces the likelihood of infection and ensures proper management if a bite occurs.