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Tick Bites — Removal and Aftercare
What to do
- Remove the tick as soon as you find it — prompt removal reduces the risk of infections such as Lyme disease, which usually requires prolonged attachment.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers (or a tick-removal tool) grasped as close to the skin surface as possible.
- Pull upwards with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk — the mouthparts can snap off and remain in the skin.
- If mouthparts remain, try to remove them with clean tweezers; if you cannot, leave the skin alone and seek medical advice rather than digging.
- Clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water or an antiseptic wipe.
- Note the date of the bite, and watch the area and your general health for the next few weeks: an expanding red 'bull's-eye' rash, fever, headache, joint pains or fatigue warrant prompt medical review.
What NOT to do
- Do not burn the tick, cover it in petroleum jelly, nail varnish or alcohol gel to 'make it let go' — these folk methods delay removal and may increase infection risk.
- Do not squeeze the tick's body while removing it.
- Do not ignore a tick found after it has clearly been attached and engorged for a long time — note the date and watch for symptoms.
- Do not panic: most tick bites do not result in infection, but monitoring matters.
When to get medical care
Seek medical advice if you develop an expanding rash around the bite (especially a bull's-eye pattern), fever, flu-like illness, joint pain or facial weakness in the weeks after a bite; if mouthparts remain embedded; if the bite area becomes infected; or if you are pregnant or immunocompromised. Keep any removed tick in a sealed container with the date if your clinician wants it identified.
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
What does the Lyme disease rash look like?
Erythema migrans is an expanding red patch at the bite site, often clearing in the centre to resemble a bull's-eye, appearing days to a few weeks after the bite. It is usually not painful or itchy. Not everyone gets the rash, so flu-like symptoms after a tick bite also merit review.
How do I avoid tick bites?
On country walks, use repellent, wear long trousers tucked into socks in long grass, stick to paths where practical, and check your whole body (and children's scalps and pets) after being outdoors. Showering and tumble-drying clothes on high heat also help.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
