Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can near the head. Do NOT scrape at the tick with fingernail or knife. Do NOT cover the tick with anything as the tick will only dig deeper into your skin. Do NOT apply flame or heat – The tick WILL DIG DEEPER.

Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick. Don’t pull too fast as you may separate the tick into pieces, leaving the head in your skin.

After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol and/or soap & water.

I recommend the application of Neosporin or similar to the site with a Bandaid for additional antimicrobial action at the site to prevent infection.

Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet. If you would like to bring the tick to your healthcare provider for further identification, put it in rubbing alcohol or place it in a sealed bag or container.

Call your healthcare provider if you get any of the following during the next 30 days:
• Rash
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint swelling and pain
Treatment for tick-borne diseases should be based on symptoms, your personal history of exposure to ticks, and in some cases, blood test results.