posted
Sorry the search isn't working for me. Anyway, I was wondering what the best way to remove a tick is because several people on facebook are posting the best way is to soak a cottonball with dishsoap and hold it on the tick and the tick will come right out! Posts: 287 | From somewhere | Registered: Oct 2011
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hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
The best way is with special tick tweezers, but if you take regular tweezers and make sure you grasp head to pull it out.
I don't know about the dish soap. An angry tick will just keep injecting its germs.
Hiker53
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8879 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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If you will go to some of the FB groups they are posting proper tick removal memes right now since it's Lyme disease awareness month.
Be sure to 'share' one of those for your Facebook friends! They need to know!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
A tick should only be removed with fine-point tweezers by grasping the mouth-parts as close to the skin as possible and pulling it straight out. You don't want to twist it during removal, and you do not want to squeeze the body of the tick.
Using soap, Vaseline, motor oil, burning it with a match or any other improper removal method can aggravate the tick causing its contents to be regurgitated into the bloodstream. This can increase the risk of infection.
The tick should be saved in a Ziploc bag and the date it was removed should be documented. The tick can also be tested for disease although this is not 100% accurate.
dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Search for 'ticked off tick remover' sold at Amazon and other places. It is so much easier and more efficient than using tweezers. This is what we used on our cats when they were outdoor cats.
posted
I wondered if those were "safe" or easy to use. It seems kind of strange to me for some reason.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I have been using the Pro Tick tick remover (it is in dbpei's link) for about 10 years.
It is very effective, even with the tiniest ticks.
But, you have to be patient. You position the tick remover under the tick and slide the metal up until the tick is at the end of the slot.
Now, the tick remover is pulling on the tick. It doesn't like this feeling. You just hold steady and eventually the tick pulls out its mouthparts from your body. Then, you throw it away.
With this tool, I have removed many ticks of different sizes. It takes about 1 minute if the tick is really in. It takes a few seconds if the tick is just beginning to get inside of you.
I strongly recommend this tool. It is less than $5. I carry one in my purse and keep one in the kitchen. So, we always have one available.
I have had friends call me to bring the tool so they can take off an attached tick.
I found a tick attached to my abdomen 2 weeks after completing my lyme treatment. It was bedtime. It freaked me out.
I had my husband just pull it out with regular tweezers. The mouthparts remained in my abdomen. You could see them.
This is what will happen if the tick is really in you and you use regular tweezers.
Since the mouthparts are barbed, no matter how much I dug with a needle, I could not remove them. It is NOT like trying to remove a splinter.
It wasn't easy to find a doctor who would cut them out. Finally, my gyn did it. It is like a minor surgery.
They have to numb the area. Then, he tried pulling them out with his tweezers, but they would NOT come out. He was shocked. So, he had to use a tool like an ice cream scoop and just scoop out all of the flesh to include the mouthparts.
Then, he had to cauterize the area. It looked like I got burned with a cigarette once it was over.
So, take it from me. Remain calm, use a tick removal tool, and get the entire thing out. It will save you a major ordeal.
Buy a few. They are cheap. Always have one handy.
It comes with a plastic magnifying glass so you can see what you are doing. Plus, pictures of the various types of ticks, both nymph, male, female, etc. So, you can identify the type of tick.
If you live in a tick infested area, you need a tick removal tool. Either this one or another one designed to remove ticks. This way, the contents of the tick's stomach is not squeezed into your body (like with tweezers or your hand pulling on it), none of the tick will remain in your body, and the tick will not die from the procedure, thus being unable to remove its mouthparts from your body.
You can keep the tick and send it for testing if desired.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
quote:Originally posted by TF: This is what will happen if the tick is really in you and you use regular tweezers.
This way, the contents of the tick's stomach is not squeezed into your body (like with tweezers or your hand pulling on it), none of the tick will remain in your body, and the tick will not die from the procedure, thus being unable to remove its mouthparts from your body.
TF, I must respectfully disagree with these two points. Yes it is possible mouthparts might remain in the skin when tweezers are used, but with proper technique and patience the entire tick can be removed with tweezers. This is the only way I have removed them, and I get the entire (live) tick.
If the body of the tick is squeezed with tweezers, fingers, or anything, its contents can be regurgitated into the bloodstream. If the tick is removed by grasping its mouthparts with tweezers, its body is not being squeezed.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Sammi,
Notice that I said REGULAR tweezers. If you can get out the entire tick with regular tweezers (NOT the pointy tweezers), then tell us your technique.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
TF said that is what happens if you use regular tweezers. I took that to mean the kind most people have in their homes for eyebrow care, not the kind for removing ticks.
Thanks for all the info, everyone!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I failed to post "fine-point" tweezers which are the best. I will edit the post. I have used regular tweezers before when that was all that was avaialble. I was able to remove the entire tick.
Both Dr. Burrascano and ILADS recommend tweezers to remove ticks:
HOW TO REMOVE AN ATTACHED TICK Using a tweezer (not fingers!), grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. Then apply an antiseptic.
Removing A Tick The tick should be removed with a fine pointed tweezers, grasping it from the side where it meets the skin, and gently pulling in the opposite direction from which it embedded.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I've had many tick bites and have removed them with varying degrees of success. A couple of weeks ago I was bitten by the smallest tick I'd ever seen, which turned out to be a deer tick larva. (Last year I was bitten by a nymph, but this was even tinier.)
I couldn't imagine how I was going to get it out in one piece--or even multiple pieces! Then I remembered the Tick Twister I'd bought last year on eBay or Amazon. The package contains two sizes. I used the smaller one, and got the tick out, intact, on my first try. I was impressed.
Posts: 117 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Jul 2010
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