How to Remove a Tick

Bitten by a tick? Learn how to safely remove a tick — and prevent long-term problems

Finding a tick attached to your body may make you feel squeamish, but don’t panic. While your first instinct may be to pull it off as fast as possible, how you remove it matters. Using the wrong technique can leave parts of the tick behind or increase your risk of infection.

Despite their tiny size, these insects can have a big impact on your health: Many carry bacteria that cause serious diseases, including Lyme disease.

“We’ve seen a steady increase in ticks and tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, in Pennsylvania,” says Gary Wright, MD, a family medicine provider at Geisinger. “But not every tick carries Lyme disease, and a bite doesn’t mean you automatically have it.”

Lyme disease is spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. The good news is, most cases of Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, especially when caught early. However, some people have fatigue and muscle aches that can last up to 6 months. That’s why acting quickly and removing a tick the right way is so important.

“The risk of tick-borne illness increases the longer the tick is attached to you,” Dr. Wright says. Knowing how to remove a tick properly — and how to avoid bites in the first place — can help you safely enjoy the outdoors with greater peace of mind.

Step-by-step: How to remove a tick

If you’ve returned home from spending time outdoors and found a tick on yourself or someone else, you’ll want to remove it right away to reduce your risk of tick-borne illness. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Grab a pair of tweezers

Have a special tick-removal tool? Great. If not, a clean pair of tweezers will do just fine.

“Tweezers or a tick-removal tool are best,” says Dr. Wright. “Don’t use nail polish, petroleum jelly or a burning match to kill or remove a tick. These methods can agitate the tick and make it burrow deeper or release infected fluids.”

If needed, a magnifying glass or reading glasses can help you get a better look.

Step 2: Remove the tick carefully

Using clean, fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick firmly as close to the skin’s surface as possible, holding it by the mouthparts (not the swollen body). Pull upward and away from your skin with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist, jerk or crush the body, which can leave mouthparts behind or push more fluids into the bite.

This gives you the best chance of removing the entire tick on the first try. But if mouthparts remain in the skin after your first attempt, try to remove them again. If you can’t, leave them alone and your skin will push them out as it heals. Once the tick’s body is removed, it can no longer transmit disease.

Step 3: Clean the affected skin

Wash the bite with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or an iodine scrub to disinfect the area. Then wash your hands thoroughly.

“If the bite is itchy or irritated, applying a cool compress can help,” says Dr. Wright. “Avoid scratching the area, which can increase the risk of infection.”

Be sure to note the date and location on your body in case you need to discuss with your doctor later.

Step 4: Dispose of the tick

To make sure the tick doesn’t reattach or spread disease, dispose of it properly. Place the tick in a sealed bag or container, flush it down the toilet, wrap it tightly in tape or dunk it in rubbing alcohol.

“Never crush a tick with your fingers,” says Dr. Wright. “This can increase your risk of being infected with a tick-borne illness.”

Monitor for symptoms of Lyme disease

After removing a tick, monitor your health and watch for any symptoms of Lyme disease for about 30 days.

One of the earliest signs of Lyme disease is a rash that develops 3 to 30 days after a bite. The rash will start at the site of infection and spread outward, sometimes in the shape of a bull’s eye.

“The rash is a telltale sign of Lyme disease because it occurs in 70% to 80% of infected people,” says Dr. Wright. “Beyond that, other signs to look for include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain.”

If you develop any of these symptoms after a tick bite or spending time in an area known for deer ticks, contact your doctor right away.

“If you think the tick has been there for at least 24 hours or more, talk to your doctor about your risks,” says Dr. Wright. “Prevention and early treatment are always best to prevent long-term problems.”

Take precaution with tick-bite prevention

Because Lyme disease can have serious impacts on your health, tick bite prevention is the best medicine. If you live in an area known for deer ticks, follow these tips to reduce your risk:

Stick to marked trails and avoid hiking where ticks live, like wooded, grassy or bushy areas.
Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toed shoes when outside.
Use an EPA-approved chemical insect repellent with DEET or picaridin on exposed skin.
Perform full-body tick checks after returning indoors, especially if you were in wooded or grassy areas. And don’t forget to check your pets daily for ticks.
Shower soon after spending time outdoors to wash away unattached ticks.

“Ticks can attach to any part of your body, but they’re often found in hard-to-see areas like the groin, armpits, scalp and behind the knees,” says Dr. Wright. “If you find one, safely remove it as soon as possible.”