Rustling breezes ... rippling waters ... chirping crickets ...for dermatologists, no one will write a sonnet devoted specifically to tick-borne infections. Patients are exposed to ticks more frequently than one might think. Tick bites can occur even in urban areas and often go unnoticed. Tick borne infections are seasonal -- except when they're not. The vast majority of tick-borne infections, including Lyme disease, are reported between April and October.
Lyme disease or not, there's really no trick to enjoying outdoor summer days with confidence. You can decrease your chances of picking up this pesky little critter if you follow a few simple steps. Dr. Robinson encourages you to:
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| ● | Cover up with light-colored clothing; it allows you to see any unwanted hitchhiker on your clothing before it finds a place to attach to your skin. |
| ● | Wear long sleeves and long pants. |
| ● | Wear insect repellent with DEET. When used properly, DEET is safe. We recommend DEEP WOODS OFF. |
| ● | Check yourself, your clothes and your pets after you’ve been outdoors. |
| ● | Shower, don't re-wear those clothes. Put them in the wash. |
Despite taking all the precautions, if you think you've gotten bitten by a tick, put any creature you find into a ziplock or airtight container, mark it with the area/location where you most likely picked it up and the place of attachment on the body, and bring it to your dermatologist. They can send the suspect to a lab for analysis.
We have more information about safe removal and specimen containment. Plus learn about early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and when to see the doctor:
