It is important to remove a tick as soon as you find it.
The correct solution is to use a pair of tweezers and pull it off.
Don't try this with your fingers. You won't be able to get a good, tight grip on the tick.
- Grasp the tick tightly as close to the skin as possible with a pair of tweezers. Make sure you're gripping the tick's head. Get the tweezers as close to the mouth of the tick as possible.
- Pull firmly and steadily outward. The tick's mouth will release the skin.
Do not twist, jerk or wiggle the tweezers as you pull.
- Wash the skin with warm water and soap.
- Clean the bite with rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
See a doctor if you have trouble removing the tick.
DO NOT: hold a match to the tick, suffocate it with petroleum jelly, or poison it with nail polish!
This will cause it to inject saliva or blood into your skin and increase the chances of transmitting a disease.