Tips For Removing A Tick From Your Skin
Ticks are nasty critters that can carry a variety of dangerous diseases. If you find a tick on your body or on the body of a family member there is no need to panic, but you should remove the tick as quickly as possible. Use the following tips to properly remove a tick from your body:
Use Tweezers
The best tool to use to remove a tick is a pair of tweezers with a fine point. It is a good idea to clean the tweezers with rubbing alcohol before you remove the tick. The goal when using tweezers is to grasp the tick's body as close to the surface of your skin as possible.
Apply Steady and Even Pressure
After you have grasped the tick's body with your tweezers, pull upwards with steady and even pressure. Avoid twisting the tick or jerking at it with the tweezers, as these actions can cause the mouth parts of the tick to break off under the skin during removal. In the event that the mouth parts do break off in the skin while you're removing the body of the tick, use your tweezers to carefully pull the mouth parts out of your skin.
Disinfect
Once the tick is completely removed from your skin, you will need to disinfect the area and your hands. You can clean the area where the tick was attached with soap and warm water, rubbing alcohol, or iodine. Make sure that you pay carefully attention when disinfecting and ensure that the area where the tick was attached and your hands are completely clean.
Dispose of the Tick
A live tick removed from your body needs to be disposed of properly. It is never a good idea to crush a tick with your fingers. Instead, place the tick in a sealed container or bag and throw it away, try submersing the tick in rubbing alcohol, or flush the tick down the toilet.
Avoid Folk Remedies for Removing a Tick
There are a number of folk remedies for removing a tick, such as painting it with nail polish, covering it with petroleum jelly, or applying heat to the body of the tick. It is in your best interest to avoid all of these methods. The thinking behind these folk remedies is that they may cause a tick to detach from the skin. But you want to remove the tick quickly, not wait for it to detach, which is why using tweezers is a better method for tick removal.
For more information, contact companies like Environmental Services Pest Control.
