Tick Safety This Summer: What You Need to Know

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy hiking trails, backyard gatherings, gardening, camping, and outdoor sports. Unfortunately, warmer weather also brings increased exposure to ticks — tiny parasites capable of transmitting serious illnesses through their bites.

At Northeast Dermatology, we want our patients to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors. Understanding where ticks live, how to identify them, the diseases they can spread, and how to prevent bites can help protect you and your family all season long.

Where Are Ticks Commonly Found?

Ticks thrive in warm, humid environments and are commonly found in:

• Wooded areas

• Tall grasses and brush

• Leaf litter

• Overgrown lawns

• Hiking trails

• Areas where deer and rodents are present

Ticks do not jump or fly. Instead, they wait on grasses or shrubs and attach themselves when a person or animal brushes past them. This behavior is called “questing.” Even suburban yards can harbor ticks, especially properties near woods or natural areas.

How to Identify a Tick

Ticks are small arachnids related to spiders. Depending on their life stage, they can range in size from a poppy seed to a small apple seed after feeding.

Common ticks found in the United States include:

Deer Tick (Blacklegged Tick)

• Small with dark brown to black coloring

• Known for transmitting Lyme disease

American Dog Tick

• Brown with lighter markings

• Common in grassy fields and along trails

Lone Star Tick

• Identified by a white spot on the female’s back

• Increasingly common in many regions of the U.S.

Because ticks can be difficult to spot, thorough skin checks after outdoor activity are important.

Medical Conditions Transmitted by Ticks

Ticks can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites that may cause illness. Some tick-borne diseases can become serious if not treated promptly.

Lyme Disease

The most well-known tick-borne illness, Lyme disease may cause:

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Headache

• Muscle and joint pain

• Swollen lymph nodes

• A characteristic “bullseye” rash in some cases

Ticks typically need to be attached for at least 36 hrs to spread disease.

The rash of Lyme disease typically occurs 1-2 weeks after tick detachment and spreads to at least 5 cm over the following week. Early treatment with antibiotics is typically very effective.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Symptoms may include:

• Fever

• Rash

• Severe headache

• Nausea

• Muscle pain

  
  

This illness requires prompt medical attention.

Alpha-gal Syndrome

Associated with Lone Star and Black leg tick bites, this condition can trigger an allergic reaction to red meat and other mammalian products.

Other Tick-Borne Illnesses

Ticks may also transmit:

• Anaplasmosis

• Babesiosis

• Ehrlichiosis

• Tularemia

• Powassan virus

If you develop fever, rash, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, contact a healthcare provider promptly.

How to Prevent Tick Bites

Prevention is the best defense against tick-borne illness. Here are several effective strategies:

Dress Protectively

• Wear long sleeves and pants when hiking or gardening

• Tuck pants into socks

• Choose light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily

Use Insect Repellent

Apply EPA-registered repellents containing:

• DEET

• Picaridin

• IR3535

Permethrin-treated clothing can provide additional protection.

Stay on Cleared Paths

Avoid walking through tall grass, dense brush, and leaf piles whenever possible.

Perform Tick Checks

After spending time outdoors:

• Check your entire body carefully

• Pay close attention to the scalp, behind the ears, underarms, groin, and behind the knees

• Shower soon after coming indoors

Be sure to check children and pets as well.

Protect Your Yard

• Keep grass trimmed

• Remove leaf litter

• Create barriers between lawns and wooded areas

• Discourage deer from entering the property

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If you discover a tick attached to your skin:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers

2. Grasp the tick close to the skin

3. Pull upward steadily without twisting

4. Clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol

Avoid folklore remedies such as burning the tick or applying petroleum jelly.

Monitor the bite area and your health over the following weeks. If symptoms develop, seek medical care.

Stay Safe This Summer

Ticks may be small, but the health risks they carry can be significant. With awareness and proper prevention, you can greatly reduce your risk of tick bites and tick-borne illness while enjoying outdoor activities this summer.

If you have concerns about a tick bite, unusual rash, or changing skin lesion, the team at Northeast Dermatology is here to help.

Stay safe, stay protected, and enjoy a healthy summer outdoors.