Tick Bite Pictures & Symptoms

Spending time outdoors raises your risk of getting an insect bite, but, of course, there are a lot of critters out there. If you’ve spent time in a wooded or brushy area lately, it’s understandable to wonder if that newly-acquired mark on your skin could be a tick bite. But…what does a tick bite look like?

It’s not always easy to tell. “Tick and other insect bites can look similar,” says Griffin Dill, Ph.D., coordinator of the Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab at The University of Maine. “Without finding a tick attached and feeding, it’s hard to differentiate one bite site from another,” he says.

But treating and preventing these bites can help keep nasty tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease out of your future—so knowing how to identify a bite is crucial. Here, the signs and symptoms to watch out for, plus tick bite pictures to refer to when you suspect the blood-sucking critter has made its way onto your skin.

What does a tick bite look like, exactly?

An attached tick that has not grown bigger from feeding yet.

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An attached female dog tick that has grown bigger from feeding.

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The signs of a tick bite actually vary from person to person, since everyone’s immune system reacts differently to them, explains Thomas Mather, Ph.D., director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and Tick Encounter Resource Center. While someone may have a small, red bump after the tick detaches, others may develop an area of redness and itchiness.

Your best bet is to find the tick while it’s still on your skin. “Ticks are designed to linger when they attach and bite,” says Mather. The mouth of a tick contains a bunch of backward-pointing barbs that they use to stay put, meaning they are “designed to lock and load,” as Mather puts it. The biters also secrete a cement-like substance around their mouths to keep them stuck even if they were to be, say, absentmindedly scratched at.

Depending on where the tick is in its lifecycle—larva (baby, six legs), nymph (eight legs), or adult stage (full-sized critter)—it can stick around anywhere from three to six days, Mather says. The longer they’re feeding, the bigger they get—and the greater the risk of transmitting disease.

A tick bite right after a tick was pulled from the skin, with some still stuck insde. CREDIT: KitAy / Flickr

Flickr Creative Commons / KitAy

If you’ve been previously bitten, there’s a greater chance you will have an allergic reaction to the tick saliva within 20 to 40 hours of the bite, says Mather. After a bite, the area may appear as a small red spot that doesn’t expand to be larger than a dime. However, more severe reactions can occur, and rashes can develop. Because tick bite signs vary wildly and can mimic the appearance of other insects, even tick experts can’t always tell one red mark from another.

An infected tick bite on a man’s stomach.

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How can you tell a tick bite from a mosquito bite?

Obviously, ticks aren’t the only bugs that can bite you and leave a mark. “Tick bites are difficult to detect compared to mosquito bites since the reaction from a bite can vary from person to person,” says board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, M.D.¹, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics.

Tick bites may “have a tiny, deep red circle with a lighter red patch around the edges,” Dr. Rodney says. And, she points out, “ticks can remain on the skin and site, making it easy to tell if you have a tick bite.”

But, if the bug has left the premises, Dr. Rodney says that these are signs you’re dealing with a mosquito bite:

• It’s itchy
• It looks red or white
• It gets puffy
• It has a raised bump or a dark spot that looks like a bruise

Another thing to keep in mind, per Joshua Zeichner, M. D., director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital: Mosquitoes tend to bite more than once or bite in groups. “Mosquito bites often are multiple, while a tick bite usually is a single lesion,” he says.

How can you tell a tick bite from a spider bite?

It’s important to point this out, per Gary Goldenberg, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City: “Spider bites are rare.” Meaning, if you’ve been bitten by something, odds are higher that it was a mosquito or tick vs. a spider.

That said, a spider bite has a certain look. “Spider bites are more distinct and leave two equally spaced dots,” Dr. Rodney says. “These bites also tend to be more round and have some redness and irritation.” And, since there are different types of spiders out there, the bites can look slightly different.

Where do ticks bite?

You can find a tick bite anywhere. However, “although they can and do attach to any part of the body, there are certain body parts they more commonly move toward, like the hairline, or in tucked-away places, like the armpits, groin, and behind knees,” says Dill. That’s because ticks have heat sensors that allow them to seek out warmer, moist places. Recently, doctors even discovered a tick attached to a 9-year-old boy’s eardrum.

Are tick bites itchy? Do they hurt?

Generally, tick bites do not hurt. You might feel a bite—but you may have no idea when it happens either. Both are possible. “Early in the process of biting, ticks inject a pain mediator via their saliva,” says Mather. Because it’s more likely that subsequent bites will elicit a reaction, the first bite can often go unnoticed, he says. However, many people do find them itchy. If you continue to itch at a certain spot on your body, Mather encourages you to take a look to see what you’re scratching at, since it’s one common way people find ticks.

Does a tick bite always cause a rash?

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You’ve probably heard of the classic “bullseye” rash, which is one of the most distinct symptoms of Lyme disease. This circular rash is dark in the center and expands outward, like a bullseye, appearing about a week after the bite on any part of the body. It doesn’t always look like that, though.

You may have a crusty spot with a splotch of redness around it that gets bigger, bluish rashes, or a red, oval plaque, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Catch is, this rash only appears 70 to 80% of the time, says the CDC. Remember that not all ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease; there are other types of rashes associated with other tick-borne illnesses. For instance, Rocky Mountain spotted fever can cause a red, speckled rash that appears first on wrists and ankles.

Child’s right hand and wrist displaying the characteristic spotted rash of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Smith Collection/Gado//Getty Images

It’s also important to keep in mind that rashes can be tough to distinguish from one another. The CDC has a whole page on rashes that resemble the bullseye associated with Lyme, but aren’t. These include large, itchy rashes, the ringworm fungus, and hives. If you’re concerned about any rash or are worried you may have been bitten by a tick (or know you have), call your doctor. In certain circumstances, they can prescribe a course of preventative antibiotics if Lyme disease is suspected or you live in a state with a high risk of Lyme.

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How to remove a tick and treat a tick bite

First, don’t panic. If you find one attached to your skin, remove the tick as quickly as possible using a set of fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick as closely to the surface of your skin as possible, and pull upward with steady, even pressure. If mouth-parts are left in the skin, try your best to remove them, but if not just let your skin heal normally, says the CDC. Then, make sure to clean the bite area with soap and water or alcohol.

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Dispose of the tick in a sealed bag or container, wrapped up tightly in tape, or by flushing it down the toilet, says the CDC. Never crush it with your fingers, and of course, in the weeks to follow you should keep an eye out for any lingering symptoms, like a rash.

What are the signs that your tick bite may be infected?

Just like other bug bites, tick bites can become infected. Dr. Rodney recommends being on the lookout for the following signs of infection:

• Chills and fever
• Aches and pains
• Fatigue
• A rash

How long will it take a tick bite to heal?

It depends on a few factors, including the extent of the bite and whether the area is infected, Dr. Rodney says. That said it can take a while. “Bites can take as long as 30 days to heal,” Dr. Rodney says.

When should you see a doctor for your tick bite?

Keep tabs on the bite area after a tick has bitten you. “If the area of the bite becomes red or swollen for days or you develop flu-like symptoms, this may be a sign of tick-related disease such as Lyme disease,” Dr. Rodney says. “You should call your doctor or visit the nearest emergency room.” And, if you develop signs of an infection, you’ll also want to call your doctor for help.

Ticks can be tiny (sometimes no bigger than a poppy seed!) and they can be easily missed, so it’s important to do thorough body check after you’ve spent time outdoors. Be sure to look carefully under your arms, around your ears, inside your belly button, behind your knees, between your legs, and in your hair. “Checking yourself, kids, and pets can go a long way in minimizing contact with these critters,” says Dill.

And as always, stock up on the best tick repellents before your next outdoor adventure.

Related Story

• The Best Tick Repellents to Prevent Bites

Jessica Migala

Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more. She is based in the Chicago suburbs and is a mom to two little boys and rambunctious rescue pup.

Chigger Bites: Treatment, Prevention, and Symptoms

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Chiggers, also known as red bugs, can give itchy bites. To treat, wash the area, dab on antiseptic, soothe with lotion, and use ice to reduce irritation. Contact a doctor if symptoms don’t improve.

Chiggers are so tiny that you probably won’t notice when they jump from that tall blade of grass onto your skin. You won’t feel it as they hitch a ride right into your home. When you eventually do feel them, however, they can be extremely itchy.

Read on to learn about chiggers, what their bites look like, and how to treat the bites.

Chiggers live in tall weeds and grass, in berry patches, and in wooded areas. They may be in your backyard, by the lake, and clustered along your favorite hiking trail. They are most active on spring, summer and fall afternoons, when temperatures are warm and inviting.

They can quickly attach to your skin if you walk by and brush up against vegetation where they live. When the temperature falls below 60˚F (16˚C), chiggers become inactive. They die off when the temperature falls below 42˚F (6˚C).

Chiggers are very tiny and it generally takes a magnifying glass to see them. Adults are about 1/60 of an inch and have eight legs. The larvae are red, wingless, six-legged creatures that measure less than 1/150 of an inch. Because of their red color, you might be able to spot the larvae when they cluster together. After they feast on human skin, they turn a yellowish color.

Only the larvae bite humans. They tend to choose warm, moist areas of the body. Chiggers have claws that help them grab onto skin. The chigger then attaches its mouth to the skin and injects saliva. The saliva contains an enzyme that breaks skin cells down to liquid form.

Your body responds by hardening skin cells around the saliva, creating a tube, or a stylostome through which the chigger sucks the host’s body fluids. Chiggers can stay attached and feeding for several days. Usually they last about 4 days before falling off.

Usually several chiggers are able to latch onto a person walking through an infected area. When the chigger falls off, you are left with reddish bumps. You may notice a bright red dot in the center — this is a remnant of the tube your skin formed in response to the chigger’s saliva. The bumps may look like welts, blisters, pimples, or hives.

Chiggers can stay latched to the same spot for several days, and it’s common to be bitten by more than one. So bites will generally appear in groups and get larger for several days to a week.

Many insects tend to bite exposed skin that’s easy to get to. Chiggers like to bite in folds of skin as well as places where clothing fits tightly. Most chigger bites occur around the ankles, waist, armpits, crotch, or behind the knees.

You won’t feel it when the chigger latches on, and you probably won’t feel a thing when it bites. However, most people report symptoms within hours of the bite. The most problematic symptom of chigger bites is the intense itching and desire to scratch. Chigger bites on the penis can cause severe itching, swelling, and painful urination.

It can take anywhere from one to three weeks for chigger bites to heal. If you suspect you have chigger bites, immediately wash with soap and water. This will get rid of any remaining chiggers on your body. Then apply an antiseptic to any welts.

In the meantime, try to avoid scratching, as this can cause infection. You may use over-the-counter anti-itch medications like hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion. You can also apply ice to the bites to relieve the itch.

Avoid very hot baths and showers. If you become infected or symptoms don’t improve, see your doctor. It’s a common misperception that chiggers burrow under the skin. They don’t, so there is no need to try to remove them.

Shop for over-the-counter anti-itch medications online at Amazon.

Chigger bites are uncomfortable, itchy, annoying, and can make it difficult to sleep. In most cases, chigger bites don’t cause any harm to your health. Chiggers feed on skin cells, but not on blood. They don’t carry or transmit disease.

However, chigger bites can become infected from too much scratching. Notify your doctor if you have swelling, fever, or other signs of infection.

Spring, summer, and fall are prime time for chigger bites. When you’re in wooded areas that may be chigger-infested, try not to brush up against vegetation. When hiking, walk in the center of trails, rather than along the sides.

Wear long sleeves and long pants that can be tucked into your socks or shoes. Use insect or tick repellent, especially around the tops of your shoes, shirt neck, cuffs, and waistband. Shower as soon as you go indoors. Wash your clothes in hot water.

Shop for insect repellent online at Amazon.

How to get rid of chigger bites? treatment, rash, symptoms and pictures

• Chigger Bites Topic Guide
• Doctor’s notes on the symptoms of Chiggers

What are chigger bites?

Picture of Chiggers

• Chiggers are juvenile forms of the tick from the family Trombiculidae .
• Chiggers are barely visible to the naked eye. Juvenile forms are red and have 6 legs.
• Chiggers live in all parts of the world. They are most often found in
  • forests,
  • grass fields,
  • parks, gardens and
  • in damp places around lakes or rivers.
• Symptoms of chigger bites include severe itching and flat or raised red bumps on the skin. Sometimes they look like a blister.
• Treatment for chiggers includes home remedies for itching and over-the-counter medications.
• Chigger bites can be prevented with insect repellants, clothing washed outdoors in hot water, and avoiding chigger-friendly places such as low-lying vegetation near a damp spring.

What does a Chigger look like?

Picture of chigger bite and chigger life cycle

How do chiggers bite people?

The chigger tick is about 1/150 of an inch long, which means it is barely visible to the naked eye. Juvenile forms that bite humans have six legs, while adult forms have eight legs. Chigger mites are red in color, and the juvenile (biting) forms require a relatively moist environment, so they are most often found in vegetation that is close to ground level. When human skin or clothing comes into contact with low-lying vegetation that chiggers live in, the mites can infect the person and migrate to the person’s skin in search of a feeding site.

Chiggers bite most often in areas of thin skin such as wrinkles and folds. Therefore, chigger bites are usually observed in the perineum and groin, in the armpits and in the folds behind the knees. The ankles are also a common site for chigger bites. Other areas that chiggers commonly bite are areas where the compression of clothing (such as belts) creates obstacles to their migration.

A popular myth about chiggers is that they hide in the skin and stay there, but this is not true. When a chigger bites, it inserts its nutritional structures and mouthparts into the skin. They inject enzymes into the host’s skin that break down the host’s tissues. The area then hardens and a feeding tube called a cyclostomy develops in the area of ​​the bite. Through this structure, chiggers can feed on the skin for several days if left undisturbed.

What are the signs and symptoms of chigger bites?

Symptoms begin after the chigger has started injecting enzymes into the host’s skin. The very fact of the bite is not noticeable.

• Chigger bite symptoms include:
• Itching, which can be quite intense
• Raised or flat red bump on the skin
• Skin bump resembling a blister or pimple

Itching is the main symptom and itching is usually most intense 1-2 days after the initial bite. Itching may last for several days, and it may take up to 2 weeks for the areas to return to normal.

Any condition characterized by intense itching can lead to scratching. In turn, scratching can lead to breakage of the skin, which can lead to secondary bacterial infections of the skin.

When to Seek Medical Care for Chigger Bites

• Chigger bites can usually be managed at home without the need for medical attention.
• However, medical attention should be sought if a person has been bitten by a chigger and develops signs of a secondary bacterial skin infection (spreading areas of redness, warmth, pus, and increasing tenderness or pain).

How to Diagnose Chigger Bites

• Chigger bites are usually identified based on their location on the skin and a history of being outdoors or in contact with vegetation, as well as the characteristic itching.
• Diagnostic tests are not usually required.

How to get rid of Chigger bites?

Treatment of chigger bites is aimed at relieving the accompanying itching; this will reduce the chance of secondary bacterial infections due to scratching, which can destroy the skin barrier to infection.

• Both calamine lotion and corticosteroid creams can be helpful in reducing the itching of chigger bites.
• Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may also be helpful.
• In many cases no treatment is required.

What are home remedies for chiggers?

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines may be used as needed to control the symptoms of chigger bites. Many home remedies for chigger bites have been registered, but many of them are based on the misconception that chiggers hide and live in the skin. Home remedies designed to get rid of chiggers such as

• bleach,
• nail polish,
• turpentine, or
• alcohol applied to bites in an attempt to “suffocate” chiggers is not effective because the mites are not actually in the skin.

The only effective treatments are creams and anti-itch medications (see below). Home remedies for itching, such as

• cool shower or
• bathtubs,
• colloidal oatmeal baths, or
• cool compresses may provide some relief.

Pictures of bad bugs: identifying bugs and their bites

Where do chiggers live?

People can take steps to prevent chigger bites by using the following methods:

• Wash skin with soap and water after outdoor activity.
• Wash clothes worn outdoors with hot water.
• Avoid vegetation that is low to the ground when outside temperatures are favorable for chiggers. (Chiggers do not bite in colder temperatures and are not found in places with temperatures above 99 F or 37.2 C).
• Use insect repellents such as DEET (carefully follow the directions on any insect repellent as some can cause problems if used improperly, especially in children).
• Wear long trousers and long sleeves when outdoors, and tall boots or boots. If possible, legs in trousers should be tucked into boots.

Prognosis of chigger bites

• Chigger bites resolve on their own without any long-term complications. However, scratching the affected areas can lead to skin wounds that can become infected with bacteria.
• Travelers to Asian areas should be aware that endemic typhus from chigger bites should be promptly treated with appropriate antibiotics, as untreated infections can lead to poor prognosis (encephalitis, pneumonitis, and death).

small bugs with a big bite – Drink-Drink

Contents

• Chigger habitat
• Pictures of chigger bites
• How chiggers bite
• Symptoms of bites chiggers
• How to treat chigger bites
• Health hazards from chigger bites
• How to avoid chigger bites

What are chiggers?

Chiggers are tiny larvae of the arachnid family, sometimes called red beetles. Although the larvae are extremely small in size, their bites deliver a powerful blow. They are so tiny that you probably won’t notice them jump from a tall blade of grass onto your skin. You will not feel how they will drive right up to your house. However, when you eventually feel them, they can itch a lot.

Chigger Habitat

Chiggers live in tall weeds and grass, in berry fields and in woodlands. They can be in your backyard, by a lake, or along your favorite hiking trail. They are most active in spring, summer and autumn when temperatures are warm and inviting.

They can quickly attach themselves to your skin if you walk past and touch the vegetation where they live. When the temperature drops below 60˚F (16˚C), the chiggers become inactive. They die when the temperature drops below 42˚F (6˚C).

Pictures of chigger bites

Chiggers are very small and usually require a magnifying glass to see them. Adults are about 1/60 inch and eight feet long. Larvae are red, wingless, six-legged creatures less than 1/150th of an inch in size. Because of their red color, you will be able to spot the larvae when they come together. After they feast on human skin, they acquire a yellowish color.

How chiggers bite

Only larvae bite people. They tend to choose warm, moist areas of the body. Chiggers have claws that help them cling to skin. The chigger then attaches the mouth to the skin and injects saliva. Saliva contains an enzyme that breaks down skin cells into a liquid form.

Your body responds by strengthening the skin cells around the saliva, creating a tube or stylus through which the chigger sucks in the host’s bodily fluids. Chiggers can stay attached and feed for several days. They usually last about 4 days before they fall off.

Symptoms of chigger bites

Usually, several chiggers may attach themselves to a person walking in an infested area. When the chigger falls off, reddish bumps remain. You may notice a bright red dot in the center – this is the remnant of the tube that your skin formed in response to the chigger’s saliva. The bumps may look like welts, blisters, pimples, or hives.

Chiggers can stay attached to the same spot for several days and are usually bitten by more than one. Thus, bites tend to appear in clusters and get larger over the course of a few days or a week.

Many insects tend to bite on exposed skin that is easily accessible. Chiggers love to bite into the folds of the skin, as well as places where clothing is tight. Most chigger bites occur around the ankles, waist, armpits, crotch, or behind the knees.

You won’t feel when a chigger bites, and you probably won’t feel anything when it bites. However, most people report symptoms within a few hours of being bitten. The most problematic symptom of chigger bites is intense itching and a desire to scratch. Chigger bites on the penis can cause intense itching, swelling, and painful urination.

How to Treat Chigger Bites

Chigger bites can take one to three weeks to heal. If you suspect you have chigger bites, wash them immediately with soap and water. This will get rid of the remaining mites on your body. Then apply an antiseptic to any scars.

In the meantime, avoid combing as this can lead to infection. You can use over-the-counter itch medications such as hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion. You can also apply ice to the bites to help reduce itching.

Avoid very hot baths and showers. If you become infected or your symptoms do not improve, see your doctor. It is a common misconception that chiggers hide under the skin. They are not there, so there is no need to try to remove them.

Buy over-the-counter itch medications online at Amazon.

Health hazards from chigger bites

Chigger bites are unpleasant, itchy, irritating and can interfere with sleep. In most cases, chigger bites do not cause any harm to your health. Chiggers feed on skin cells, but not blood. They do not carry or transmit diseases.

However, chigger bites can become infected from too many scratches. Tell your doctor if you have swelling, fever, or other signs of infection.

How to avoid being bitten by chiggers

Spring, summer and autumn are the best times to get bitten by chiggers.