How do you get tics off?

Question

I've heard you can't just pull them off because they leave their head behind.

Answer 1

The Best Way to Remove a Tick
The possibility of tick-borne illnesses gives a sense of urgency to the topic. In chat here at DrGreene.com, a mother asked me about the best method for getting ticks off our kids (and animals). People in the room had heard of many methods: applying rubbing alcohol, smothering with Vaseline, painting with fingernail polish, twisting clockwise (or counterclockwise), and touching with a hot match. Though these methods are popular, they are not the best. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as near to the mouthparts (and as close to the skin) as possible. Use gentle, steady, straight force to pull the tick out. The site should then be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with alcohol or another disinfectant.

The tick can be killed by soaking in rubbing alcohol or flushing down the toilet (it should not be crushed or squeezed). Hands should be washed afterwards. Check with your local health department to see if they want the tick for monitoring purposes.
http://www.drgreene.com/21_392.html
http://www.rdoctor.com
http://www.symptomat.com
http://www.kavokin.com
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/696_flea.html
http://www.healthsquare.com/mc/fgmc1408.htm
Prompt and complete removal of ticks does help prevent illness. This is a situation where the folk remedies can do more harm than good.

Alan Greene MD FAAP

June 01, 2001

Click here to read yesterday's Daily Dose of Dr. Greene.

Answer 2

The reality is that you leave head parts behind if you just pull. The bites are very infectious. Best to use a chemical to weaken the bite Then pull them off. I use a drop of bleach rubbed in until they let go. The bite needs to be cleansed as the germs are from infected blood tics and are very dangerous. Always clean well and avoid pulling hard and breaking the mandibles in your skin.

Answer 3

The Best Way to Remove a Tick

Use tweezers to grasp the tick as near to the mouthparts (and as close to the skin) as possible. Use gentle, steady, straight force to pull the tick out. The site should then be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with alcohol or another disinfectant.

The tick can be killed by soaking in rubbing alcohol or flushing down the toilet (it should not be crushed or squeezed). Hands should be washed afterwards. Check with your local health department to see if they want the tick for monitoring purposes.

Prompt and complete removal of ticks does help prevent illness. This is a situation where the folk remedies can do more harm than good.

Answer 4

Its best to put a bunch of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and hold it over the tick to drown it. Then use a good pair of tweezers and grab it at the point where it meets the skin and twist 1/2 turn while you pull up. Make sure you fill a small paper cup or empty pill bottle with more rubbing alcohol and place the ticks in it to drown some more. Good luck!

Answer 5

you need to be quite careful when pulling ticks off, leaving the head in you may increase your chances of Lyme's disease and/or other infection. the generally accepted way to remove them is with a twist. most vets sell a small plastic crow bar thing for removing ticks from dogs and other pets, that work equally well on humans! be aware that a red ring around the bite may indicate Lyme's disease and you should immediately consult your GP if this happens-this can be a 3or4 weeks later. ticks breath from the back end of their body so putting vasaline on them will sufficate them causing them to let go, it also makes them vomit so is not a good idea. i'm not sure if alcohol does the same? i've tried using the end of a cigarette, i don't know if it killed it but it didn't let goand i burnt my leg trying. tea tree oil is apparently a good thing to clean it up afterwards.

Answer 6

I just saw this on Good Morning America on ABC this morning. They say to pull the tick off with a pair of tweezers by grabbing it at the head then wash the area with soap and water. Then disinfect the area with an antiseptic.

Answer 7

You have to pull them off, ticks don't voluntarily let go. When you grab the tick, grab it with tweezers and make sure you have got the head. If you pull the tick and leave the head behind, it will bury itself deeper and then your off to the doctor.

You or your pet may be better off going to the doctor or vet anyway. Ticks carry lime desease testing for it should be done.

Answer 8

You can pull them off if they have not been on you for long, if their head is buried under your skin you will know, usually it dosn't take much to pull them off with tweezers if their head is not buried. Otherwise you can use iodine or nail polish remover or acitone etc and just wipe it over the area, they will usually let go. Oh and yes, burning them does work too, just heat ot the end of a needle and burn him with that, be careful tho :)

Answer 9

Hold the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to the skin as possible and turn it clockwise or anticklocwise and it will detach itself. Do not pull it off perpendicularly, or you'll break the rostrum inside the skin and risk infections. Good luck!

Answer 10

u can use fine tweezers and try to pull it out. do not burn them off, use vasoline, or gasoline..... once you pull the tick off your skin wash the area with soap and water and keep it clean. if you develop fever and rash then go to your doctor. you might have an onset of lime disease, which is a condition that some ticks might be infected with as they got it from deer or other animals. good luck.