You pulled the tick off, but a tiny dark speck is still in the skin. Did the tick's head get stuck? Here's what that speck usually is, what the CDC says to do about it, and how to avoid leaving tick mouthparts behind next time.
Is it really the tick's head?
Usually not. What stays behind is almost always the tick's mouthparts, the small barbed piece it uses to anchor itself while feeding. The head and body come away with the rest of the tick. It happens most often when the tick is squeezed, twisted or yanked during removal.
What to do if tick mouthparts are left in your skin
According to the CDC, your body will naturally push the mouthparts out over time as the skin heals. You can also try to remove them with tweezers. If you can't remove them easily with tweezers, leave them alone.
- Clean the area with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
- Try once, gently, with clean fine-point tweezers and good light. A magnifier makes a real difference here.
- Don't dig. Needles, pins and squeezing irritate the skin and don't help. If it doesn't come out easily, stop.
- Keep it clean and let it heal on its own.
When to see a doctor after a tick bite
The CDC advises seeing a doctor if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick. Tell them about the bite, when it happened and where you likely picked up the tick. If you saved the tick in a sealed container, bring it along.
How to remove a tick without leaving the head behind
Most stuck mouthparts come from using the wrong tool. Household tweezers with wide, blunt tips tend to grab the tick's body, not the part at the skin. To get the whole tick out:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick.
- For bigger, engorged ticks, a notched tick remover slides under the tick without squeezing its body.
- See what you're doing. A magnifier helps you place the tips right at the skin, especially on tiny nymphs.
For the full walkthrough, read How to Remove a Tick the Right Way.
Skip the matches and nail polish
Folk remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match don't make a tick back out cleanly. The CDC recommends against them. Fast removal with the right tool is what matters.
The right tools, in one case
The Tick-Away tick removal kit has everything this article describes: fine-point tweezers for small ticks, a notched remover for large ones, a folding magnifier, a specimen vial and a tick ID card. It all comes in a zip case that clips to a pack. Get the kit before you need it.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Source: CDC, What to Do After a Tick Bite.
