1. icon-arrow-left
    Healthy Living
Healthy Living · article

What you need to know about tick bites

adult tick (Ixodes scapularis) on grass

If you live, work, or play in New Jersey’s woods or grasslands, it’s difficult to avoid exposure to ticks and tick-borne illnesses. Most people know that blacklegged (deer) ticks can transmit Lyme disease, but there are other local tick varieties that also carry harmful pathogens that can cause human disease. Here’s how to make sure you — and your furry friends — are protected.

Janine Ruppert, a nurse practitioner at Atlantic Health System, is all too familiar with treating patients who’ve been bitten by a tick. She says, “You usually won’t feel when a tick bites. You might not even notice it on your body until it grows larger. And the bullseye rash only develops around the site of the puncture in 80% of cases, about three to 30 days after the bite.”

Finding a tick on your body

So, if you find a tick crawling on your body, remove it, but don’t worry about contracting disease. However, if a tick is attached to your skin, remove it properly — and pay attention. In most cases, Lyme disease bacteria isn’t transmitted until a tick has been attached for about 36 hours. If a bullseye rash or other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue or joint swelling develop, call your doctor.

Here’s how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends removing a tick:
  1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
  2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
  3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
  4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Here are a few ways to dispose of a live tick:
    1. Put it in alcohol
    2. Place it in a sealed bag/container
    3. Wrap it tightly in tape
    4. Flush it down the toilet

Preventing a tick bite

Ticks are looking for a warm host to attach to and feed from, and animals or humans are just what they’re after. To avoid being a tick’s next meal, here are a few tips:

  • Cover your skin with long-sleeved shirts, pants, high socks, a hat, and closed-toe shoes.
  • Wear bright colors rather than dark colors so you can see ticks on your clothing.
  • Spray DEET repellant on clothes and skin to prevent insect bites.
  • Stay on trails as much as possible.

“When you get home, do a full body check using a mirror for those hard-to-see places: underarms, hair, ears, behind knees, around the waist and inside the belly button. Then take a shower,” says Janine. “Putting your clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes will kill any ticks that have made it to your house, because where there’s one, there’s more.”

Find a Primary Care Doctor
Published: June 26, 2025

Related articles

Healthy LivingWhat’s the most overlooked nutrient in your diet? FiberAre you eating enough fiber? For most Americans, the answer is no. An Atlantic Health expert explains why this powerful nutrient deserves a larger role in your diet.
Healthy LivingCan ultra-processed foods fit into a healthy diet? The answer may surprise youUltra-processed foods get a bad rap—but do they all deserve it? An Atlantic Health expert shares the ranking system for processed goods, and how to make smarter choices at the grocery store.
Healthy LivingLearn about ESG, a nonsurgical weight loss procedureSee how endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty at Atlantic Health offers a minimally invasive alternative to bariatric surgery and weight loss medication.
Healthy Living7 common myths about HPVIf you think you understand HPV, these facts may surprise you. An Atlantic Health expert clarifies the misconceptions surrounding humanpapillomavirus (HPV).
Healthy LivingHow to know if you have an underactive thyroid glandFatigue, weight gain and hair loss may seem unrelated, but could all be tied to an underactive thyroid. An Atlantic Health expert explains how a simple blood test can provide the answer.
Healthy LivingWhy am I so tired? 6 ways to fight winter fatigueDiscover reasons why you feel more tired during the winter and natural energy booster recommendations from an Atlantic Health family medicine physician.
Healthy LivingThe hidden health link between your gut and your heartHeart health starts in an unexpected place—your gut. An Atlantic Health expert explains how the foods you eat help lower inflammation throughout your body—and that protects your heart.
Healthy Living5 Stretches that improve your postureSlouching can lead to pain, stiffness and poor posture. An Atlantic Health expert shares five simple stretches that rebalance muscles, improve mobility—and keep you standing tall.
Healthy LivingA new way to think about sugarAs we head into the sugar-heavy holiday season, an Atlantic Health registered dietitian offers some perspective about sugar and carbs—and how to balance them into a healthy diet.
Healthy LivingGet the facts about 8 common UTI mythsUrologist David Chaikin, MD, explains urinary tract infections: who gets them, what causes them and how to prevent and treat them.
Healthy LivingCould this be Lyme disease? As Lyme disease surges in the Northeast, recognize the signs and symptoms of this tick-borne illness with tips from an expert at Atlantic Health.
Healthy LivingCould you be at risk for an aortic aneurysm?How do you know if your blood vessels are weak and putting you at risk for an aneurysm? Atlantic Health vascular surgeon shares the warning signs that just might save a life.