Treatment for Tick Bites

Immediate Actions After Finding a Tick

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends removing the tick immediately using clean fine-tipped tweezers or a comparable device by grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady, constant pressure 4, 5
The American Academy of Rheumatology advises against using burning methods, gasoline, kerosene, petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, or other noxious chemicals to remove ticks as these methods are ineffective and potentially harmful 1, 4
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests avoiding crushing the tick or handling it with bare fingers as fluids from the tick's body might contain infectious organisms 1, 3
After removal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning the bite area thoroughly with soap and water, alcohol, or an iodine scrub 1, 3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises washing hands thoroughly after handling ticks, especially before touching face or eyes 1, 3

The American Academy of Rheumatology recommends prophylactic antibiotic therapy should only be given within 72 hours of removing an identified high-risk tick bite 4, 5
A tick bite is considered high-risk only if it meets all three criteria: the tick is identified as an Ixodes species vector, it occurred in a highly endemic area for Lyme disease, and the tick was attached for ≥36 hours 4, 5
For high-risk Ixodes bites, the American Academy of Rheumatology recommends a single dose of oral doxycycline: 200 mg for adults and 4.4 mg/kg (up to maximum 200 mg) for children 4, 5

The American Academy of Rheumatology suggests monitoring the bite area for 30 days for signs of infection or development of erythema migrans (expanding rash), which would indicate Lyme disease 5, 6
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises being alert for symptoms of other tick-borne diseases such as fever, headache, muscle pain, or joint pain 3

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using EPA-registered tick repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, p-methane-3,8-diol, or 2-undecanone on exposed skin 4, 3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests applying permethrin to clothing for additional protection 3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises wearing protective clothing including long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes when in tick-infested areas 3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends performing regular tick checks on yourself, children, and pets after spending time outdoors 1, 3

The American Academy of Rheumatology warns that delaying tick removal increases risk of disease transmission, and that a single dose of doxycycline prophylaxis may not prevent all tick-borne diseases, only Lyme disease 5
The American Academy of Rheumatology advises against assuming all tick bites require antibiotics—prophylaxis is only indicated for high-risk bites meeting specific criteria 4, 5
The American Academy of Rheumatology suggests overlooking the importance of tick identification, which helps determine risk of specific diseases 4, 6