Prevention
New cases of Lyme disease have increased to close to 500,000 annually in the US. Knowing how to reduce your risk through preventative measures can protect you and your loved ones from this potentially debilitating infection.
The deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease are very small, about the size of a pinhead, and difficult to see. Taking proactive preventative steps is essential to minimize your risk.
Watch these prevention tips:
Protect Yourself Outdoors
- Wear protective clothing: Treat clothing with permethrin, a tick pesticide
- Use EPA-registered repellents: Apply tick repellent containing DEET or picaridin to exposed skin. Use this EPA tool to find the repellent that is right for you
- Stay on trails: Avoid tall grass, brush, and leaf litter where ticks are commonly found
- Create a tick-safe zone: Maintain your yard to reduce tick habitats around your home
After Outdoor Activity
- Perform daily tick checks: Carefully inspect your entire body, especially in warm, moist areas (underarms, groin, scalp, behind ears, behind knees)
- Shower promptly: Showering within 2 hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks
- Dry clothes on high heat: Place clothing in the dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes to kill any ticks
- Check pets: Ticks can hitch a ride on pets and then transfer to humans
Risk is Year-Round
Although Lyme disease risk is greatest during warmer months (May through July), tick activity and infection risk can occur throughout the year in many regions.
Removing Ticks
Act Quickly
Tick attachment time matters. Removing ticks as soon as possible reduces the risk of infection. You cannot get sick from a tick that is crawling on you but has not yet bitten. If the tick is attached, it will be difficult to pull off.
Proper Removal Technique
- Use fine-tipped tweezers: Grasp the tick’s mouthparts as close to the skin surface as possible
- Pull steadily upward: Use steady, even pressure without twisting or jerking
- Be patient: The tick’s mouthpart has barbs, so removal takes time and care
- Pull straight out: Do not pull back sharply, as this may tear the mouthparts and leave them embedded in the skin
What NOT to Do
- Do not squeeze or crush the tick’s body; this may force infected fluids into the skin
- Do not twist or jerk the tick; this can break off the mouthparts
- Do not apply petroleum jelly, nail polish, rubbing alcohol, or a hot match to the tick while attached; these methods can cause the tick to regurgitate infected fluids into the wound
After Removal
- Clean the area: Wash the bite site and your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then apply rubbing alcohol or antiseptic
- Dispose of the tick: Submerge in alcohol, place in a sealed bag, or flush down the toilet
- Monitor the bite site: Watch for signs of an expanding red rash over the next two weeks
- Watch for symptoms: Be alert for flu-like symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache, or body aches
- Check for more ticks: If you found one tick, there may be others on you or family members
- Consider tick testing: Consult with your healthcare provider about sending the tick to a lab such as TickCheck or TickEncounter to be tested for pathogens
- If mouthparts remain embedded: Don’t panic! Embedded mouthparts alone do not transmit Lyme disease. Clean the area and allow the skin to heal naturally, or consult your healthcare provider
- Seek medical attention: If a rash appears, take a dated photo, track your symptoms, and contact your doctor immediately
