Ticks are an unfortunate part of outdoor living. These little arachnids hitch a ride by biting and holding on, hoping not to be noticed while they gorge themselves on our blood. When you notice the offender in a panic, the initial reaction is to rip the tick off, but how do you know if a tick head is still in your skin?
How to Properly Remove a Tick
Ticks are notorious for being difficult to remove. Once they find an ideal place to perch, they spread back your skin with two sets of hooks before burying their hypostome into the gap it created. By taking these steps, the tick creates a secure hold for itself, which often means getting the parasite out in one piece can be difficult.
The first step to removing a tick is by performing a proper check for ticks. You’ll want to check yourself and family members, even the pets, carefully within the first 12 hours of being in an environment for ticks because if they are attached for 24-48 hours, they can pass along any diseases or other tick-borne illnesses to their host.
Your best chance of removing the tick in one go is by taking a clean pair of tweezers to get a firm hold on the tick right next to your skin. You do not want to crush the tick, but you want to apply enough pressure to hold it securely. With even pressure, you’ll need to pull straight up and away from the bite. Deposit the tick in alcohol to kill it, or if it has been attached for over 24 hours, you may want to place it in a plastic container and put it into the freezer to kill it and have it available if any testing is needed. Once the tick is removed, clean the area, preferably with alcohol, though hand sanitizer will do in a pinch.
Checking to See if A Tick Head is in Your Skin
What can you do if the tick didn’t come off in one go? First off, don’t panic. After you’ve taken a breath, clean the area thoroughly before carefully inspecting the bite to see what remains. If you accidentally decapitated the tick, you could grab the head with the tweezers, pulling back firmly with a straight upward motion. If you’re unable to get the tick’s head out, you may need to consult a doctor to remove it properly. Leaving it in your skin could lead to infection.
You’ll want to monitor the area even if the tick appears to be completely gone. A dark black dot could indicate that some part of the tick was left behind. If, after some time has passed, the skin becomes irritated and red or discolored, or you feel a bump where the bite was, you may need to see a dermatologist to safely remove the tick because it has lodged itself deep into your skin.
When to See a Doctor for a Tick Bite
Generally, you won’t need to see a doctor for most tick bites, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore a sign for potential issues. A rash or infection can be an early tell if there is a complication to a tick bite or if there is still a tick head in your skin. If you are experiencing unexplained fatigue, joint swelling, fever, nausea, or muscle pain, you should immediately consult your doctor.
Reduce the Risk to Your Family with Tick Control from The Mosquito Squad
Though it might not come to mind initially, The Mosquito Squad of Southeastern Massachusetts provides fast-acting and reliable tick control for the area. Tick-borne diseases are not something to risk if you can practice tick control. The Mosquito Squad offers the 6 C’s of Tick Control that help pinpoint key areas of reducing the tick population around your home and property. When you have completed the first five, don’t forget the last step of calling the pros!
Reduce your chances of getting a tick-borne disease with the 6 C’s of Tick Control. Mosquito Squad of Southeastern Massachusetts is looking forward to minimizing your chances of being bitten by a tick with our traditional tick barrier treatment. Contact us online or call us today for a free quote for your Southeastern Massachusetts Tick Control needs.
FAQs
Don't use your fingers, and don't try any other “hacks” to try to get a tick out of your skin. If you see a persistent black dot in your skin, it's possible parts of the tick's head are still stuck in your skin. If this happens, try the tweezers again.
What happens if the tick's head stays in? ›
Leaving a tick's head embedded in your (or your furry friend's) skin doesn't increase your risk of tick-borne disease. However, a tick's head left embedded in your skin can increase your risk of infection. The tick's head and mouth parts are covered in germs that you don't want to leave inside your skin.
How long does it take for a tick to bury its head in your skin? ›
Myth: Ticks burrow under the skin.
This usually takes anywhere from three to six days. The area around the bite might start to swell around the head of the tick, but the tick does not burrow below the skin.
How do you tell if a tick is embedded in your skin? ›
Because ticks are often very small, you might not see it either. At first, it might just look like a fleck of dirt. As it feeds though, it swells up and can be easier to find. You might get a small red bump where the tick bites you.
Why won't the bump on my tick bite go away? ›
However, if you had a bite and you removed the tick but the bump does not go away, it may be that a bit of the tick's leg is still in the lesion and—if that's the case—you should follow up with your physician to make sure a piece doesn't need to be removed.
What to put on ticks to make them release? ›
Touching it with a hot match is a common one. Others include covering it with petroleum jelly or nail polish (in theory to suffocate it), or freezing it off. These are all supposed to make the tick "back out" of the skin on its own.
What are bad signs after a tick bite? ›
These include fever, rash, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, and arthritis. Seek medical attention if you observe any of these symptoms and have recently had a tick bite, live in an area known for Lyme disease, or have recently traveled to an area where Lyme disease occurs.
What does a concerning tick bite look like? ›
A small bump may appear at the site of the tick bite. But if it develops into a rash, that may indicate illness. A rash usually appears 3-14 days after the tick bite but it can look different depending on the type of tick. Watch for small reddish or purplish spots, or expanded rashes that look like a bullseye.
How do you get a dead tick head out of your skin? ›
How to remove the tick's head
- If the wood tick's head breaks off in the skin, remove any large parts.
- Clean the skin with rubbing alcohol.
- Use a clean tweezers or needle to uncover the head and scrape it off.
- If a small piece of the head remains, the skin will slowly shed it.
Gently pull the tick out with tweezers by grasping its head as close to the skin as possible. If the head remains, try to remove with a sterile needle. Wash the bite site with soap and water. Rubbing alcohol may be used to disinfect the area.
Can I get sick from a tick that is crawling on me but has not yet attached? Ticks must bite you to spread their germs. Once they attach to you, they will feed on your blood and can spread germs. A tick that is crawling on you but not attached could not have spread germs.
What does a tick look like burrowed in the skin? ›
A feeding tick looks like an engorged, oval-shaped bean stuck to your skin. Depending on it's species, it can be black, brown, reddish-brown, gray, or yellow in color. If you've found a tick still in the process of sucking your blood, read this article about how to safely remove it.
Will a tick head eventually come out? ›
If part of the tick stays in the skin, don't worry. It will eventually come out on its own. Step 3: Release the tick into a jar or zip-locked bag. Step 4: Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water.
Can you tell how long a tick has been attached? ›
If the tick has a swollen or rounded body, and the color has changed from brick red to a gray or brown, is an indication that the tick has been feeding and may have been attached for more than 36 hours.
How soon do you need antibiotics after a tick bite? ›
Although not routinely recommended, taking antibiotics within three days after a tick bite may be beneficial for some persons. This would apply to deer tick bites that occured in areas where Lyme disease is common and there is evidence that the tick fed for more than one day.
When to worry about a tick bite? ›
You should call your provider: If you think that the tick has been attached to you for several hours or even a day. If you see a rash developing at the site of the tick bite or other areas on your body. If you begin to develop flu-like symptoms after a tick bite.
How to remove a tick that is embedded? ›
First Aid
- Use tweezers to grasp the tick close to its head or mouth. Do not use your bare fingers. ...
- Pull the tick straight out with a slow and steady motion. Avoid squeezing or crushing the tick. ...
- Clean the area well with soap and water. ...
- Save the tick in a jar. ...
- If all parts of the tick can't be removed, get medical help.
Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but prefer hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before Lyme disease bacteria can be transmitted. Grasp the tick firmly and as close to the skin as possible.
When to See a Doctor for a Tick Bite