An embedded tick is a small arachnid that anchors its mouthparts (hypostome) into the skin to feed on blood. This process carries the risk of transmitting disease-causing organisms, such as those causing Lyme disease. Quick identification and removal are important because the risk of infection increases the longer the tick remains attached and feeding.
Visual Markers of an Embedded Tick
An unfed tick, especially the nymph stage, can be extremely small, comparable to a poppy seed. Before feeding, ticks are generally flat, oval-shaped, and dark (black, reddish, or brown). Hard-bodied ticks, the most common type, have a shield-like plate called a scutum just behind the mouthparts that does not expand during feeding.
Once a tick embeds and begins feeding, its appearance changes significantly as it becomes engorged. The abdomen swells, becoming rounder and plumper, resembling a small sac or a grape when fully fed. This engorgement can make the tick grow several times its original size. As the body expands with blood, the color often transitions from dark brown or black to a lighter, grayish, bluish, or silvery hue.
Distinguishing an embedded tick from a mole, scab, or splinter requires close examination. Unlike a flat scab, a feeding tick is raised and protrudes from the skin, with a visible head area embedded. Ticks are arachnids, meaning they have eight legs, which may be visible near the skin line. Gently poking the object might reveal the legs or cause the structure to move, which would not happen with a mole or a scab.
Proper Techniques for Tick Removal
Removing an attached tick quickly and correctly reduces the chance of disease transmission. The preferred tool is a pair of clean, fine-tipped tweezers for a precise grasp of the mouthparts. Avoid standard household or blunt-nosed tweezers, as they are more likely to squeeze the tick’s body and force potentially infected fluids into the bite site.
Use the fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, aiming for the mouthparts. Pull upward with a steady, even pressure, avoiding any twisting or jerking motion. Twisting or crushing the tick’s body may cause it to regurgitate gut contents or leave the mouthparts embedded. If mouthparts break off, they can be removed with tweezers, but if not easily retrieved, the skin will typically heal and push them out naturally.
Certain common removal methods should be avoided, as they can cause the tick to release more infectious material. The goal is to remove the tick swiftly and intact without irritating it. Ineffective and dangerous methods include:
- Applying petroleum jelly.
- Applying nail polish.
- Applying essential oils.
- Using heat sources like a lit match.
Once removed, do not crush the live tick; dispose of it by placing it in a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down a toilet.
Post-Removal Care and Symptom Monitoring
After removal, the bite area and your hands must be thoroughly cleaned. Wash the site with soap and water, or use an antiseptic wipe or rubbing alcohol to disinfect the area. This helps prevent a secondary infection.
For several weeks following a tick bite, monitor your health and the bite area. The most well-known early sign of Lyme disease is the characteristic expanding red rash called Erythema Migrans. This rash appears in 70 to 80 percent of cases, typically 3 to 30 days after the bite. It often expands to more than two inches and sometimes develops a central clearing, giving it a “bull’s-eye” appearance.
Other early signs of a tick-borne illness include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headache, and joint pain. If you develop a rash or any of these symptoms within several weeks, seek medical attention. Informing your healthcare provider about the tick bite, including the timing and location, assists in making an accurate diagnosis and determining necessary treatment.