Article content
This year is unfortunately favourable for ticks. There are many of them and they even appeared earlier than usual. Right from the very spring we face their ubiquity, which carries the risk that we may bring some home from a stay in nature. The key is timely and safe removal. Thanks to that you prevent possible later problems. Always check yourself immediately and remove the tick. But how to do it best? You can also try an effective and quick method without tweezers. Read on to find out how.
A damp cotton swab will be enough
There are situations when you are on holiday or a trip and don’t have tweezers to hand. A plain cotton swab will also serve to pull out a tick if you happen to have one with you. But there are people who prefer this method to tweezers even at home. So it depends on each person which method has proved successful for them. So how does the cotton swab method work? Simply dip it in water so it slides better over the skin. Do not use any other liquids such as creams, soaps or even oil. Even with plain water you don’t have to overdo it.
Once you have the damp cotton swab ready you can begin the removal. Move the swab around the tick in one direction. If it doesn’t come away immediately, be patient. Definitely do not press too hard, don’t rotate quickly and don’t drag the swab across the tick. Always be careful and think through each movement to avoid tearing.
Do not attempt dangerous methods
If you don’t have tweezers, small forceps or a cotton swab for the ears, it’s better to avoid amateur tick removal. Some daredevils have managed to remove a tick using strings. However, we would rather not recommend this method. Its use is only possible in the case of the utmost emergency. In a failed attempt there is a risk of the body being torn off from the embedded head.
After removing the tick in this way the same rules apply as always. Thoroughly disinfect the spot. In the following days carefully monitor and check the area. If you notice anything unusual, visit a doctor immediately. An alarming sign is large spots that even change colour.
