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Tick Bite

Reassurance: Most tick bites are harmless. The spread of disease by ticks is rare.
Wood Tick Removal:
- Use a pair of tweezers and grasp the wood tick close to the skin (on its head). Pull the wood tick straight upward without twisting or crushing it. Maintain a steady pressure until it releases its grip.
- If tweezers aren't available, use fingers, a loop of thread around the jaws, or a needle between the jaws for traction.
- NOTE: Covering the tick with petroleum jelly, nail polish or rubbing alcohol doesn't work. Neither does touching the tick with a hot or cold object.
Tiny Deer Tick Removal:
Tick's Head Removal:
- If the wood tick's head breaks off in the skin, it must be removed. Clean the skin. Then use a sterile needle to uncover the head and lift it out or scrape it off.
- If a very small piece of the head remains, the skin will eventually slough it off.
Antibiotic Ointment: Wash the wound and your hands with soap and water after removal to prevent catching any tick disease. Apply an over the counter antibiotic ointment (e.g., bacitracin) to the bite once.
Expected Course: Tick bites normally don't itch or hurt. That's why they often go unnoticed.
IF your symptoms become worse: Review Should I Call? recommendations.