Removing Ticks from Flesh?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

There are wood ticks and there are deer ticks and I know Lyme Disease is carried by deer ticks, a very nasty disease. I know two people who have been permanently affected by it.

What are some good methods you all know about removing ticks safely? I know there are tweezers and you have to be careful so the head will not break off. I was told you can use a lighted match or lighter and when exposed to the tick, the tick will extricate itself on its own. Is this true?

What are some other methods?

[WireEdge Roger]

My wife says hairspray works, but I haven't personally tested this method. I haven't had one attached to me in years, luckily!

[1623]

Our dog picked up ticks frequently and our son loves to be in the woods, so I can tell you that in our experience nothing beats a good pair of tweezers. I'm not a fan of holding open flame to skin and the petroleum jelly method (covering the tick and waiting for it to die) doesn't work either as it just makes the tick more difficult to remove because they still won't back out.

We've also tried tick twisters that you can buy in pet stores and they've never worked for us either.

Bottom line is that it must be fully removed and tweezers with a solid grip, as close to the skin as you can get and a quick tug is the best method, at least in our experience.

I have pair that I purchased from County Comm and the tips are very sharp, precisely ground and they work very well for tick removal.

[eric m.]

Nail polish remover or vicks vapor rub. Wait about ten minutes and then try to pull with tweezers if they haven't let go already! My wife has had lyme disease for about 4 years now, and believe me you don"t want it!!!

[Sequimite]

I used tweezers (past tense - haven't seen a tick since moving to Sequim) but found quick pulling to break off the head too often. Firm grip and medium constant pull until it lets go have worked for me.

[RanCoWeAla]

I had one on a very private part earlier in the Summer and I just sat in a tub of warm water for about thirty or forty minutes .When I got out I just gently pulled on with my fingernails and it turned loose.

[NoFair]

These are the best I've used for humans (not as good on dogs and cats).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OTOM-TICK-TWI ... 3a7929663e
They come in a pack with 2 different sizes so they work well on large and small ticks.

[Knivesinedc]

The tweezers close as you can to the head with a medium pull works well, but never burn the tick!! The heat will cause the tick to throw up inside of you and give a highly increased chance of lyme disease. also the body could just fall of and leave the head lodged in your flesh causing the ticks fluids to run into your body. it sounds just lovely doesnt it?? :D

[SpyderEdgeForever]

What if the bad thing happens and the head of the tick breaks off inside your skin? Are there methods of dealing with that?

[chuckd]

http://www.tickedoff.com/


work pretty dang well.

[eric m.]

Cannot tell, but from the video it could have just decapitated the tick, leaving the head inside the dog's skin!

[chuckd]

Cannot tell, but from the video it could have just decapitated the tick, leaving the head inside the dog's skin!

The spoon? I haven't watched the video or anything so I'm not sure ha. But if it is the tick spoon you are talking about then I must say that I and many coworkers have used them to remove ticks of all species and life stages.

[Skidoosh]

I just use my thumbnail and when I pull it off I make sure there is a little flap of skin that comes with it. Knife blade works if it is dull.
1) Ticks have no anal vent so if you flame them they regurgitate into you - that's a problem.
2) You need to watch the area in the case of a deer tick to see if a bullseye appears.
3) Use prevention- deet on the pants cuff and a tick check will help a great deal. If you have pets check them for grapes

[defenestrate]

I have such a loathing for ticks I have tried most methods to get one out. typically I just use my fingers and have never had an issue. if I have feared infection I lean toward peroxide a little prodding with a knife tip or fire, or some combination thereof. I tend to incinerate ticks with a small torch lighter if plausible.

[xceptnl]

Probably not the end all source for information, but here is what the CDC says.

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html

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[sir_mike]

I heard dish soap works but never tried it.

[Harpreet]

Wow great method. Thanks for sharing!

[Irelander]

I second the O'TOM Tick Twister. My vet sells them at the clinic and they work very well. We use them on the dogs and on ourselves and we have never had a tick's head come off using this tool. The key is to twist the tick counter-clockwise. Apparently they bore into your skin with a clockwise rotation. By going the other way they are easily removed. We have tried every other method known to man and the Tick Twister is the only consistently good way to remove a tick. Its a life saver.

http://www.otom.com/how-to-remove-a-tick

[Evil D]

I haven't had a tick on me for probably 20 years, but all this talk of heads getting stuck in your skin, I would seriously carve out a dimple in my skin to get it out. Screw all that.