You have just returned from a long hike, a day of yard work, or a weekend camping trip. You are tired, dirty, and ready to relax. But before you hit the couch, there is one critical task you must complete: the full-body tick check.
Ticks are notoriously stealthy. Their bites are usually painless because their saliva contains a natural anesthetic, and nymphal ticks are so small they can easily be mistaken for a freckle or a speck of dirt. Finding and removing a tick quickly is the single most effective way to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Here is exactly how to perform a thorough tick check on yourself and your children.
Step 1: The Pre-Check Prep
Before you even begin checking your skin, you need to manage your clothing and gear. Ticks can hitch a ride on your pants, socks, or backpack and crawl onto you hours later.
As soon as you get inside, take off your outdoor clothes and put them directly into the dryer. Run the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes. The dry heat will kill any ticks hiding in the fabric [1]. Do not wash the clothes first, as ticks can survive a cycle in the washing machine. Next, take a shower. While a shower will not wash off an attached tick, it can wash away unattached ticks that are still crawling on your body.
Step 2: Know Where Ticks Hide
Ticks prefer warm, dark, and moist areas of the body. They will often crawl upward until they hit a roadblock, like a waistband or a hairline, before attaching. When performing your check, pay special attention to these high-risk zones:
- In and around the hair and scalp
- In and behind the ears
- Under the arms (armpits)
- Inside the belly button
- Around the waist and under the beltline
- Between the legs and in the groin area
- Behind the knees
Step 3: The Step-by-Step Check
A proper tick check requires good lighting and a mirror. A full-length mirror is ideal, but a hand-held mirror is essential for checking hard-to-see areas like the back of your legs and your back.
- Start at the bottom: Begin by inspecting your toes, the spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet. Work your way up your legs, paying close attention to the backs of your knees.
- Check the midsection: Use a hand-held mirror to check your groin area and buttocks. Inspect your waistline and inside your belly button.
- Inspect the torso and arms: Check your chest, back, and under your arms. Raise your arms and look closely at the armpits.
- Finish with the head and neck: This is where the Trail Ready Solutions kit becomes invaluable. Use your fingers to feel for small bumps on your scalp. Then, use the stainless steel comb from your kit to part your hair systematically, checking the scalp visually. Use the magnifying mirror to inspect behind your ears and the back of your neck.
Step 4: Checking Children
Children require a slightly different approach. Because they are shorter, they often brush against questing ticks at chest or head height. Consequently, ticks are frequently found on a child’s head, neck, and behind their ears.
Make the tick check a routine part of coming inside. Use the stainless steel comb to thoroughly check their hair, and use the magnifying glass to inspect any suspicious “freckles.”
What to Do If You Find a Tick
If you find a tick crawling on you, simply dispose of it. If you find one attached, do not panic, but act quickly.
Retrieve your Trail Ready Solutions Tick Removal Kit. Use the precision tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up with steady pressure. Clean the area with alcohol or soap and water. By performing a diligent tick check and having the right tools on hand, you can stop tick-borne diseases before they start.
References
[1] U.S. Forest Service, “Checking for ticks,” https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/ticks
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