A Tick on Your Body Demands Immediate Action — Here's Exactly What to Do

The Danger Is Real — and It's Peak Season

Tick season runs from April through September in the United States, when people spend more time outdoors and tiny, hard-to-spot tick nymphs are most active. That means right now, in mid-June, is one of the riskiest times of year for an encounter. And experts say most people still don't know what to do when they find one.

Tick bites affect more than 31 million people each year in the U.S., according to a report in the journal *Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases*. Ticks are common parasites that feed on wildlife, pets, and people throughout North America. Most ticks that bite humans belong to a group known as "hard ticks," named for their hard outer exoskeleton — and while they thrive in wooded and brush-covered areas, they also live in parks, green spaces, and suburban neighborhoods across the United States.

How to Remove a Tick — and What Not to Do

The CDC recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible — but be careful not to use excessive pressure, and don't twist or jerk. According to Dr. Pete Teel, an entomologist and tick expert from Texas A&M University, "the head of the tick that is embedded in the skin is attached to the main tick body by a thin cuticle," meaning a twisting motion will likely separate the body and leave the head embedded in the skin.

There are also dangerous myths to avoid. Don't use burning or smothering to get rid of the tick — this can make the tick release more saliva, increasing disease risk. Similarly, avoid petroleum jelly, nail polish, or other substances said to help ticks detach, as these may also agitate the tick and cause it to release more saliva. Speed matters enormously: removing a tick within 24 hours after it's attached will lower your chance of getting a tick-borne illness.

Once the tick is out, don't just toss it. Some experts recommend keeping it in a plastic bag, just in case. If you later develop symptoms consistent with Lyme or another tick-borne illness, you could have the tick tested to see if it's carrying relevant pathogens, which could streamline your diagnosis and treatment process.

When to See a Doctor

It's not necessary to go to a doctor right away unless you think the tick has been on you for days, or if you develop a rash or other symptoms. Tick-borne illness symptoms can appear anywhere from 3 to 30 days after a bite and may include headache, fatigue, chills, and fever, as well as muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes. With Lyme disease specifically, there may be a rash that looks like a bull's-eye or target.

When diagnosed promptly, most tick-borne diseases can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. Blood tests can detect tick-borne diseases, but your doctor shouldn't delay treatment while waiting for results if infection is suspected — the test for Lyme disease antibodies isn't very accurate until several weeks after infection, and a late diagnosis can lead to complications.

Prevention: Your Best Line of Defense

Wearing bug spray — products containing DEET are most effective — and dressing strategically when in tick-heavy environments such as woodlands, fields, parks, and even some residential backyards is key. Wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot dark ticks, and tucking your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks makes it harder for ticks to reach bare skin. You can also treat your clothes — or buy garments pre-treated — with permethrin, which repels ticks and insects.

It's good practice to check your body for ticks after any outdoor activity during tick season, which generally runs from spring to fall and peaks in the summer months. Make sure to check around joints like knees, elbows, and armpits, behind your ears, and anywhere covered in hair. With tick populations growing and seasons extending due to climate change, these habits are no longer just for hikers — they're essential for anyone who steps outside.