Tips to Prevent Tick Bites this Summer – 2024 Season
Isabella Cannon
| 3 min read
Ticks are small, eight-legged, bloodsucking arachnids that feed on animals and people. Many ticks are infected with bacteria that can cause illness, such as Lyme disease, and are known to spread the bacteria when they bite.
The risk of tick-borne diseases increases when the weather is above 40 degrees in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services encourages Michigan residents to take steps to avoid tick bites while enjoying the outdoors this season.
Lyme disease is an emerging disease transmitted by the blacklegged tick in Michigan. In 2024, It has been reported in nearly every county in the state, according to the State of Michigan.
How to prevent tick bites
Taking prevention measures is one of the smartest ways to avoid tick bites and tick-borne diseases.
Avoid tick-infested areas
- Ticks live in wooded, grassy, and bushy areas.
- The CDC recommend walking in the center of trails to avoid high grass and leaf litter.
Use insect repellent
- Apply an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin.
- Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping gear. You can also buy clothing and gear that has already been permethrin-treated in advance.
- Follow manufactures instructions when you apply repellents.
Wash clothes in hot water
- Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.
- Put your clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks after you come indoors.
Perform daily tick checks
When you come inside, check yourself, your clothing, and your pets for ticks. Ticks often hide:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside the belly button
- Back on the knees
- In and around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
Bathe or shower
Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases.
- Showering may wash off unattached ticks
- It’s a good opportunity to do a thorough tick check
How to remove a tick
Step 1: Use tweezers.
Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick by its head and as close to the skin's surface as possible.
Step 2: Pull the tick off.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure straight out. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause pieces of the tick’s mouth to break off and remain in the skin.
Step 3: Clean the affected area.
After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Step 4: Dispose of the tick.
Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by:
- Putting it in alcohol
- Placing it in a sealed container with a tight-fitting
- Wrapping it tightly in tape
How to treat tick bites
The best way to treat a tick bite starts with removing it. See a health care provider immediately if a tick has burrowed deep into skin or if the head, mouthparts, or other tick remains cannot be removed on your own.
It may also be a good idea to see a health care provider if you:
- Develop any flu-like symptoms
- Your bite area develops any signs of infection such as skin rash or a bull’s eye-shaped mark
The antibiotic doxycycline can prevent Lyme disease if taken within three days of a tick bite.
Additional Resources
The CDC offers a Tick Bite Bot, an interactive tool that will assist individuals on removing attached ticks and determining when to seek health care, if appropriate, after a tick bite.
