What to Do When a Tick Bites You

No matter how many precautions you take from long pants on hikes to loading up on DEET tick bites can still happen. But before you panic, it’s important to know that most tick bites don’t lead to disease. Still, the rise in tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease in the U.S. makes it worth understanding what to do if you find a tick attached to your skin.

Here’s your calm, clear step-by-step guide to managing a tick bite including when to call your doctor and how to protect your health.

1. Stay Calm

It’s easy to feel alarmed when you discover a tick, but don’t stress. According to the CDC, most ticks don’t carry disease. Even if you’ve been bitten by a blacklegged tick (deer tick), the one that can transmit Lyme disease, the chances of infection are low unless the tick has been attached for at least 36 hours. In fact, the risk of Lyme disease after a tick bite is around 1.2 to 1.4%, even in high-incidence areas.

2. Remove the Tick Promptly and Properly

Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers.

• Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

• Pull upward steadily without twisting or jerking.

• Do not use petroleum jelly, nail polish, matches, or other DIY methods. These can aggravate the tick and increase the chance of infection.

3. Clean the Bite Area

After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol to help prevent infection.

4. Identify the Tick Type

Different ticks carry different diseases.

• Tiny brown tick (poppy seed size): Likely a deer tick, known to transmit Lyme disease and babesiosis.

• Brown with a white collar: Probably a dog tick, associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

• Brown to black with a white splotch: Likely a Lone Star tick, which can cause STARI (southern tick-associated rash illness).

Was the tick flat and easy to remove? That’s a good sign. If it was engorged and rounded, it may have been feeding for a while, which increases the risk of transmission.

5. Dispose of the Tick Safely

You don’t need to save the tick unless instructed by a healthcare provider. Instead:

• Flush it down the toilet

• Seal it in a zip-top bag with tape and throw it away

Tick testing isn't generally recommended positive tests don’t confirm transmission to you, and negative results don’t rule out infection.

6. Call Your Doctor If Necessary

Preventive antibiotics may be prescribed if all the following are true:

• It was a deer tick

• It was attached for 36+ hours

• The bite occurred in a Lyme-endemic area (such as New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or Maine)

• It’s been less than 72 hours since removal

If you meet these criteria, your provider may give you a one-time 200 mg dose of doxycycline to prevent Lyme disease.

7. Watch for Symptoms Over the Next Month

If you don’t qualify for preventive antibiotics, monitor for symptoms for 30 days. You don’t need testing unless symptoms appear, because Lyme disease antibodies can take weeks to show up.

Look for:

• A red rash (bulls-eye or otherwise), especially in hidden spots like behind the knees, in the groin, or along the waistline

• Fever, fatigue, headache

• Muscle or joint pain

Most early Lyme cases are treated successfully with a 2-3 week course of doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime.

What About Long-Term Lyme?

While the idea of chronic Lyme disease is debated, about 10 to 20% of people may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). This involves lingering fatigue or joint pain, but it typically resolves over time and doesn't mean the infection is still present.

Ticks are more than just annoying they’re a growing public health issue. But knowing how to handle a bite can help protect you and your loved ones.

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