These Are the Tick Bite Symptoms You Need to Know, According to Experts

When you find a tick crawling through your hair or stuck to your skin, two thoughts probably pop into your mind mind immediately: How do I get this thing off of me? And: Should I be freaking out right now?

Good news: The majority of tick bites are painless or only cause a little redness, itching, and swelling. They can be treated at home by removing the tick and cleaning the area.

However, with increasing rates of tick-borne diseases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's understandable to feel concerned about a close call. Generally, it takes a tick at least three days to transmit Lyme disease, though some other infections can be passed on within a few hours or minutes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If you plan to spend lots of time in your backyard or hiking this spring and summer, it helps to be able to differentiate between mild and serious symptoms of a tick bite—and how to avoid these creepy crawlers in the first place. Original article written by Lauren Krouse on MSN's website.

LAST UPDATED

January 6, 2025

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

MSN Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Written by an unknown contributing writer for MSN.

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

The Sawyer Mini is super lightweight, fits in your pocket, and filters up to 100,000 gallons of water.

Menachem Kossowsky
Writer

Media Mentions

Sawyer’s picaridin spray works up to 12 hours, and the company’s picaridin lotion is effective up to 14.

Bruce Ingram
Contributing Writer

Media Mentions

The Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter earns our top pick for its unbeatable mix of weight, longevity and versatility.

Meg Carney
Contributing Writer