How should you remove ticks? Most people get really worried when they discover a tick burrowed into their skin. There are now so many tick-borne illnesses that we have almost lost count. There’s Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness), anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Powassan encephalitis and Q fever. When I was a kid my dad would hold a lit cigarette to the back end of the tick in the hopes that it would let go. BAD idea. That didn’t work but did almost burn me! One reader offered a somewhat similar approach that kills ticks using mouthwash. We think it’s a bad idea.
Listerine Kills Ticks…But Do This AFTER the Tick is Removed!
Q. Last summer I learned that antiseptic mouth rinse kills ticks immediately. When I found a tick, I used to remove it and put it into rubbing alcohol where it died after a minute or so. Once I had no alcohol, but my mouthwash was handy. I wet some toilet paper with it, laid it on the tick for a few seconds and, shazam! The tick released its nasty grip. I wiped it away with the paper.
Check it out. Be sure the active ingredients match those of Listerine blue or yellow. If you put a live tick into this solution, it dies in a couple of seconds.
A. Dermatologists advise using tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull steadily (no jerking or twisting) until it lets go. There are also special tools that make it easier to grasp the tick close to the skin so you are less likely to leave the mouth parts behind. An emergency physician offered these recommendations for tick removal devices:
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We worry that anything that makes a tick unhappy could stimulate the release of nasty germs, such as those mentioned above. And what if the tick dies while still attached to your skin?
Other Non-Starter Tick Removal Strategies
Putting alcohol or petroleum jelly on a tick is not recommended by health professionals. Neither is applying nail polish. Holding a hot match against the tick is just as bad as the hot end of a cigarette. Such strategies may stimulate the tick to release more nastiness into your body thereby increasing the risk for acquiring an infection.
A tick should not be handled with bare fingers, to prevent picking up the germs it may carry. Dropping it into rubbing alcohol or a mouthwash like Listerine that contains alcohol should kill it quickly. Do this after removal. If you don’t have anything like that available, you can entomb the tick in transparent adhesive tape and dispose of it.
Wash your hands carefully after disposing of the tick. If you didn’t use disposable gloves to handle the tick, use rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Apply rubbing alcohol to the area of the bite as well.
Write the date you removed the tick on a calendar. If you develop any symptoms over the course of the next few days (fever, chills, aches, pains, headache, fatigue, rash, etc.) contact your health professional immediately! Never second guess a tick bite!
Best Advice of All…Avoid Tick Bites!
We recently received a message from a guy who has had a lot of experience trying to avoid tick bites. You may wish to take note.
Q. I’ve spent decades working on power lines in the woods of North Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia. I learned about powdered sulphur my first day out. The old rascal who was with me purposely didn’t tell me about it to teach me a lesson, and I got eaten up by ticks and chiggers.
You can find powdered sulphur in country drug stores or order it online. You can also order Sulfur8 Salve and Sulfur8 Shampoo. I use the salve in my ears, belly button and behind my neck. I use the shampoo as a final body wash after I return from the woods.
I spray permethrin on my woods clothes and just air them out. I spray DEET on my skin before I get dressed. I also use gaiters over my pants legs and top of boots to keep ticks out. You could also use electrical tape to seal your pants legs over your boots. When I get home and take my clothes off, I immediately toss them into a hot wash, so my wife won’t get bit!
I also spray my truck with DEET before I get in and after I get out. The buggers like to ride!
A. Working on power lines is a high-risk job for lots of reasons, including exposure to ticks and the diseases they can transmit. We hope others will benefit from your practical advice based on experience. Thorough tick checks after every outing are also crucial.
Learn More
If you want to listen to two extraordinary tick experts, please listen to this podcast:
Show 1380: Avoiding Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases (Archive)
Half a million people may suffer symptoms of Lyme disease this year. Learn about avoiding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
We think our two guests are among the most knowledgeable in the country. They will tell you how to avoid tick bites in the first place!
Our most recent podcast also details some of the numerous diseases ticks (and fleas) can transmit:
Show 1472: Beyond Lyme: Stealth Infections from Flea and Tick Bites
Flea and tick bites can be much more serious than you may think. These arthropods transmit dangerous pathogens, including Bartonella.
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Please share your thoughts about ticks below in the comment section.
