← All services · Skin and minor surgery
Tick removal
tick bite · tick removal · embedded tick
A doctor or nurse carefully pulls out the attached tick in one piece. The tick can be sent to a lab to test for infections.
When a tick has attached to your skin. The sooner it is removed, the lower the risk of infection.
⏱ Duration: the removal itself takes a few minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Do not pull. Do not put oil, cream, or alcohol on the tick, and do not twist it out with your fingers. This can make it release more saliva.
- Act fast. Go to an urgent care center or clinic the same day. If there is no help nearby, the tick can be removed with tweezers or a thread.
- If you removed it yourself. Put the tick in a small jar with a damp cotton ball and close the lid. Clean the bite with an antiseptic.
What to bring
- Your ID
- The tick in a closed jar, if you already removed it
- Your vaccination records, if you have them
How it goes
- The bite area is checked
- The tick is gripped with tweezers or a special hook right at the skin
- It is pulled out slowly in one piece, without jerking
- The wound is cleaned with an antiseptic
- The tick is put in a jar. It can be sent for testing
- The doctor decides if you need medicine to prevent infection
What you'll feel
- Usually almost nothing, just a light pinch
Afterwards
- If the tick was sent for testing, results usually take 1 to 3 days
- Watch your health for 3 to 4 weeks and check your temperature
- A little redness around the bite in the first days can happen
- If a black dot is left in the skin, show it to a doctor
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Fever, headache, or body aches in the coming weeks: see a doctor right away and mention the tick
- A red spot or ring around the bite that keeps growing
- Fever with bleeding, bruises, or blood from the gums or nose: call emergency services right away
Common questions
What if the tick's head stays in the skin?
Clean it with an antiseptic and show it to a doctor. It often comes out on its own. Do not dig it out with a needle.
Should I send the tick for testing?
It is useful. If an infection is found in the tick, the doctor can start prevention or treatment sooner.
Can I remove a tick myself?
Yes, with tweezers right at the skin, slowly and without jerking. Do not use oil or alcohol.