The prevalence of ticks is increasing across the country–and the diseases they can carry are very troubling including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus and alpha-gal syndrome.
We love these tips from the American Academy of Dermatology on how to remove a tick that is attached to your skin:
- Use rubbing alcohol to sterilize the tip of tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as you can.
- Use an even pressure to pull upward on the tick with a steady motion–you don’t want to squeeze or crush the tick which can leave part of it remaining in your skin.
- Clean the area where the bite is with soap and water.
You may want to save the tick by placing it in a sealed bag or submersing in alcohol in case you develop any symptoms post bite and it can then be tested for disease.