If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as you can. Waiting to obtain a photograph, identify the species, or try a home remedy can delay removal. The steps below summarize current CDC guidance.
Remove the tick #
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk; that can leave mouthparts in the skin.
- After removal, clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.
- Dispose of the tick in a sealed container, tightly wrapped tape, alcohol, or the toilet. Do not crush it with bare fingers. Check the rest of your body for other attached ticks.
Do not use nail polish, petroleum jelly, heat, or other methods intended to make the tick detach. If small mouthparts remain and cannot be removed easily with clean tweezers, avoid digging into the skin; a healthcare professional can advise if needed.
What to watch afterward #
Note the date and likely location of exposure. If you develop a rash, fever, or other symptoms in the following days or weeks, contact a healthcare professional and mention the tick bite. Whether any testing, treatment, or preventive medicine is appropriate depends on the situation and should be decided with a clinician. The absence of a classic bull’s-eye rash does not rule out every tick-borne illness.
Source checked September 23, 2026: CDC: What to Do After a Tick Bite. Explore StingHelp’s Tick Bites hub for more prevention and warning-sign context.
