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
Common questions
What does a tick bite look like?
At first, a tick bite often looks like nothing - a tiny red spot you may not feel at all, because ticks anesthetize the skin. Frequently you find the tick still attached: a small dark oval bump, like a sesame seed that swells to a pea as it feeds over days. Normal is mild redness around it. What you are watching for over the next 3 to 30 days is the Lyme disease rash (erythema migrans): a red patch that slowly EXPANDS outward, often clearing in the center to form a bullseye, usually not itchy or painful - plus flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and later joint pain. Not every Lyme case shows the bullseye, so expanding redness plus feeling ill after a bite is reason enough to call a doctor. Remove an attached tick promptly: fine-tipped tweezers, grip close to the skin, pull straight up steadily - no twisting, no burning, no petroleum jelly - then wash and note the date. Early Lyme is very treatable with antibiotics; missed Lyme is not. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you assess a bite or rash.