Tick season is here. Ticks are always around but their peak season is usually between May and July. Experts believe that this season ticks have increased by 43%, meaning more people are likely to suffer from tick-borne diseases. It pays to be prepared, but sometimes we still find those pesky ticks on us. Fortunately, there are simple ways to safely remove ticks from your skin without using tweezers.
Why you need to protect yourself from ticks
Tick season is here with a vengeance, and how you will protect yourself matters a lot. They are small creatures, but they can make your life a living hell. It is helpful to wear long, lightweight clothing and bug repellent to help keep the ticks at bay. Ticks can be very tiny and you may not notice them until you’ve already been bitten, so it’s best to do checks every time you go outside in a wooded area or where there is tall grass. Besides sucking blood, ticks also carry Lyme diseases which can cause nervous system problems and arthritis if it is not treated on time. More so, if you fail to remove tick bites correctly from your skin, the bite may get infected over time.
How to safely remove ticks
Q-Tip Method
One way to remove ticks safely is with a Q-tip. Once you locate the tick, grab a Q-tip and get it wet with coconut oil, essential oils like clove oil, or soap, and then gently coil tight circles around it. The trick here is not to forcefully remove it, but to get it to let go of you and then attach to the Q-tip. Forcefully removing the tick will make it hold firmly on your skin making the removal process very painful. The tick may also transmit diseases, or the area may become infected. Once you get rid of the tick, clean the area with alcohol or soap and water to prevent infection.
Vinegar Method
A similar way to remove ticks is to apply vinegar to the tick and wait for it to dislodge itself from the skin. Then you can wipe it away and dispose of the tick. The tick will remove itself because it does not like the smell or taste of vinegar and will look to get away from that area. This process is relatively painless, and you should clean the affected area well with soap and antiseptic after the tick is gone.
Liquid Dish Soap Method
If using this method, you want to use a brand of dish soap such as Dawn, Palmolive, Joy, Ajax, etc. Using all-natural soaps may not be as effective for this method of removing ticks. Combine ½ cup of warm water and 3 tablespoons of dish soap. Next, soak a cotton ball with the mixture. Place the soaked cotton ball on top of the tick and hold in place for 2-3 minutes. The tick should begin to remove itself from the skin and will attach to the cotton ball. You can safely dispose of the tick and should again clean the affected area thoroughly after the tick is gone.
