Ticks suck, and if you’re a fan of doing anything outdoors you’ve probably removed your fair share over the years.
When it comes to tick removal, everyone seems to have their own technique that can involve anything from cigarettes and hot matches to olive oil and q-tips.
Most people don’t know it, but how you remove these nasty little buggers can affect your health.
Tick borne diseases can be life changing in the worst possible way. Lyme disease is the most well known, but ticks can also carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, outhern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, tularemia, and more.
The best way to avoid contracting these diseases is to remove the tick as rapidly as possible. Avoid waiting for the tick to detach with suffocation methods with oil, Vaseline, or nail polish. Twisting or burning the tick should also be avoided to prevent the tick from regurgitating any bodily fluids into your bloodstream.
Dr. Kateryn Rochon, an assistant professor of Veterinary Entomology at the University of Manitoba, explains why you should put down that burning match and pick up a pair of tweezers in the video below.