EZ Tick Removal

[buckster]

I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.  This technique has worked every time I've used it.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say,  "It worked!"

At my cabin in SW Missouri, the seed ticks are pretty thick in early Spring during turkey season, so I have found that this works well.

[jimmerc]

I've used vasoline in the same maner and works great,some one told me that they breath thru there back ends and if you do the vasoline or soap method they back out on their own cause they can't breath!  what ever the reason it works great!

[Mitch-In-NJ]

Good tip.  Thanks.

[Ratatat]

i've use a red hot nail in the past to back them out.  Guess they can't stand the heat.  The soap sounds like a much safer/better method.

[ber643]

I read that in an NC state magazine once - then keep forgetting it when it's time to use it (and it often is here). Got to remember it from now on - maybe this will help.

[PAPA BEAR]

barry...makes sense as the tick needs air while draining your blood.i'll try it out if i ever get one.

[marsniper27]

i have heard of using olive oil same principle as the soap they can't breath and have to come out.

[DaxE]

Hmm I will have to try this. I have always just pulled them out with my fingers.

[Shooty1]

This is a myth.

 http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/tick.asp

[Andy Lupher]

tobasco sauce kills them

[Tsalagi]

Ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes...things I don't miss about the South. But to be fair, we have Tiger Mosquitoes here in Arizona the size of a B-17 Flying Fortress. And they carry West Nile.

[owlbait]

Thanks shooty1 now I'm not sure who or what to believe. I thought the original post was "original", and I had always heard to use tweezers near the head/mouth of the tick.

[KSdan]

I was told that burning them out with a nail or pin is not good either- they may just spit out their juices which can spread disease.  FYI

Dan

[Grey Taylor]

Yeah, the last thing I want to happen is for the little bloodsucker to barf under my skin before he comes out. I just don't even want to go there!

Guy

[Hopewell Tom]

Nothing is easy. I heard the "burn at the butt" method is good, but CAREFULLY. Vaseline was next but a recent note up this way says NO vaseline - may cause them (deer ticks here) to barf into the wound. Recommended is the tweezers. Just don't break off their pincers in the wound....

[Jeremy]

That's a NO NO.  The link Shooty1 posted explains why very nicely.  For more info visit the CDC website (www.cdc.gov)

[bornagainbowhunter]

If I kept every tick in a mason jar with a time and date like the snopes like suggested my house would look like a cannery.  I live on a farm.  I hunt and fish.  Some things are just a little unpractical for me that just might work well for the city dweller or people in regions where these critters are rare.  

[ber643]

Oh well, back to the old ways. I pull the little suckers out (after sneakin' up on them - LOL), douse the spot with peroxide, then alchohol, and then cover it with New Skin or clear fingernail polish. Both of those keep the itch down (some)and seal the "wound". So far, so good. At least it keeps me from unconsciously scratching.

[Zradix]

I just cut off the affected limb and re-grow it.

[lt-m-grow]

What's the big deal?  Pick them off.  No magic necessary.