DIY
How to check for ticks
Most people assume that ticks primarily live in wooded areas outdoors, like in forests or parks, but these pests can even live in your own backyard.
Identifying ticks on your body
Though all types of ticks have slight variations in their appearance, most have many similarities in regard to their shape, size, and color. Ticks typically grow to be ¼-inch long, though some can grow to be nearly ½-inch long after a full blood meal. These pests tend to be reddish-brown in color, and their oval-shaped bodies appear flat until after a blood meal, which is when they become engorged and have a more raised appearance on the surface of your skin.
Because these pests are so small, it can be difficult to spot a tick bite immediately. But early detection is essential, and anyone who receives a tick bite is at risk for serious diseases such as:
Lyme disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Southern tick-associated rash illness
Tick-borne relapsing fever
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Ehrlichiosis
Tularemia
Common hiding spots for ticks on your body
Ticks on humans can be picked up from outdoor areas with tall grass, dense vegetation, and wooded environments. Once they latch onto a host, they tend to hide in specific spots on the body because they prefer warm, dark areas. Where do ticks hide on humans? Here are some common hiding spots to check:
Head and hair: Ticks can easily hide in the hair, making it difficult to spot them.
In and around the ears: Appealing for warmth and tucked away for shelter.
Under the arms: Moisture and warmth under the arms can attract ticks.
In and around the belly button: A small, enclosed space that ticks can easily access.
Legs and behind the knees: Exposed legs are an easy target if you brush up against habitats with ticks.
Around the waist or on your back: It is common for ticks to choose a hiding spot under clothing.
Around the groin: Moisture and warmth make this a common tick-hiding spot.
Between the toes: Often overlooked, ticks can get into shoes and can hide here.
How to check yourself for ticks
To help protect you and your family from the dangers of a tick bite, perform these steps after spending time hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, or doing any outdoor activity where you may have been exposed to ticks. Learn how to identify a tick on your body and follow our tips on how to check for ticks:
1. Do an immediate scan
Before climbing into your car or entering your home, do an immediate, full-body scan for any obvious hitchhiking ticks. Ticks are likely to latch onto areas of your body that may have brushed past their hiding spots, like your wrists, ankles, and legs. Don’t forget to inspect your shoes, too. If someone is with you, check each other’s necks, backs, and back of clothing for signs of these pests. If you do spot a tick on your body, follow the CDC’s guidelines for proper tick removal. Doing a tick check before heading inside can help you avoid bringing any unwanted pests into your home.
2. Perform a more thorough check
Perform a more thorough body inspection once several hours have passed. This can make it easier to spot a tick that has latched onto your body. During this tick check, it’s essential to fully undress and inspect your body in a full-length mirror to check any hard-to-see areas, like your back and calves. Because these pests prefer warm, dark areas of your body, your armpits, groin, and behind your knees are especially susceptible to tick bites.
You should also know how to check for ticks in your hair. If you have long hair, first check the parts of your body your hair covers. Then, check your scalp and behind your ears for any raised bumps that could be an engorged tick. We recommend doing this over a sink or bathtub to prevent the tick from falling onto your clothes or carpet. If any furry friends accompany you outdoors, perform a similar check on their fur and skin. Pets should be taken to a vet for veterinary care if you find ticks on your dog or cat or if you need professional assistance finding ticks on your pet.
3. Inspect your clothes
After you strip down, place your clothes in a bathtub or shower and give them a good shake to knock off any hiding ticks. Pay extra attention to your socks, shoes, and pant legs. Then, immediately wash and dry your clothes following the manufacturer’s instructions. The heat will help kill any remaining ticks on your clothes. Repeat this process with any other washable items that may have been exposed to ticks, like picnic blankets and towels.
4. Examine your belongings
Because ticks are parasites that feed directly on their host, they may be found on items close to their host. This includes clothes, pet fur, bags, and other items that you may come in contact with. Inspect any purses, backpacks, camping gear, or picnic baskets you took with you on your outings, and don’t forget to check the interior of your car for ticks that may be on your car’s seats or floor mats attempting to get to you.
5. Take a shower
Do ticks wash off in the shower? A shower can help wash off unattached ticks within two hours of being outside. After you perform the above four steps, take a hot shower to wash off any unattached ticks and perform a more thorough check for any pests that could still be hiding in your hair or on your body.
While unattached ticks can wash off in the shower, you should still be on the lookout. Ticks are small and may not be seen for several days. Even if you feel confident that you removed all possible ticks from your body and belongings, keep a close eye for several days to see if any appear. If you do have to remove any ticks from your body, watch out for any rashes that appear on your body following the bite. The CDC recommends you “see a health care provider if you become sick after a tick bite, have a rash or a fever.”
Tips to help prevent ticks
Knowing how to check for ticks is just one way to keep yourself safe. Whether you’re on a hike or in other outdoor habitats, ticks can hide, so take steps to prevent ticks from traveling with you. You can prevent tick bites by following these DIY tick safety tips:
Wear protective clothing: Reduce your risk to ticks by wearing long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Tuck pant legs into socks or shoes to minimize exposed skin.
Choose light-color clothes: Wearing light-color clothes makes it easier to spot ticks.
Use repellents: You can spray yourself with EPA-registered repellents like DEET.
Tidy your yard: Regularly cut tall grass and trim vegetation along trails and paths on your property.
Keep tick hosts away: Remove wood or rock piles, trash, and seed waste that could attract animals that carry ticks to your property.
While these DIY methods can help reduce tick encounters, they may not completely eliminate the problem. Terminix offers monthly and one-time tick control services to keep your property tick-free. Our fast-acting, long-lasting treatments target all tick species found in the U.S. for full protection. With the Nix Pest Guarantee™, you can trust Terminix to keep your property protected, and if ticks return, so will we—at no extra cost.1 Explore tick control services with Terminix today!
1 Treatment terms defined in your Plan. Limitations apply. See Plan for details.
