How to Remove ticks and treat tick bites

Tick bites should be treated immediately, the concern being transmission of Lyme disease. If you've received a tick bite, what you should do is to remove the tick promptly and carefully. Use tweezers to grasp the body of the tick near its head and pull out very gently to remove the tick whole without crushing it. Learn more about tick bites and how to treat them in this medical how-to video.

Take Action

Remove tick carefully

Wash area thoroughly

Seek medical attention

Look for rash, fever, or muscle aches

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.