The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following method for removing a tick.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin’s surface.
- Pull upward with steady pressure, without twisting or jerking.
- After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Do not crush a tick with your fingers. A live tick can be disposed of by putting it in alcohol, placing it in an airtight container, wrapping it in tape or flushing it down the toilet.
- If you develop a rash or fever after receiving a tick bite, see a doctor.
- Do not use folk remedies like covering the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach. The goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible.
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