What does a tick bite look like?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
A tick bite often shows the tick still attached - a small dark bump like a sesame seed that swells as it feeds - and the thing to watch for over the next 3 to 30 days is an expanding red rash, often bullseye-shaped, the signature of Lyme disease. Add flu-like symptoms - fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches - and not every case shows the bullseye, so expanding redness plus feeling ill after a bite is reason enough to call a doctor. Remove attached ticks promptly: fine tweezers close to the skin, steady straight pull - no twisting, burning, or smothering - then wash and note the date. Early Lyme treats easily with antibiotics; missed Lyme does not. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you assess a bite.
What to do
- Remove ticks the right way: fine tweezers, close to skin, steady pull - then wash.
- Note the date and watch for 30 days: expanding redness or bullseye means call a doctor.
- Photograph any rash with a coin for scale: expansion over days is the diagnostic clue.
- Do not wait for the classic bullseye: flu-like illness after a bite is reason enough.
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