How to Get Rid of Flea & Tick Bites

Flea and tick bites can be quite painful and irritating. It's important to treat them immediately, so they don't become infected or scarred, or spread disease. Fleas can bite up to 400 times in a day, and if that isn't scary enough, ticks can carry Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever--dangerous and potentially life threatening bacterial diseases spread through tick bites.

Things You'll Need

• Antiseptic soap
• Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• Calamine lotion
• Ice pack

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Instructions

• 1

  Clean the infected flea or tick bite areas thoroughly using antiseptic soap and water. This will keep the bites from becoming infected. Dry the bite areas completely with a clean towel.

• 2

  Remove any ticks that have buried themselves in your skin. Ticks don't just bite; they also use you as their home. Use tweezers to grab the tick from inside the bite and pull it out. Another way to remove ticks is by applying masking tape to your skin and then pulling off the tape; this will pull the tick out with the tape.

• 3

  Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to the bite areas. You can purchase 1% hydrocortisone cream at a local drug store. This will help relieve itching, so you aren't scratching the bites and making them worse. Alternatively you can use calamine lotion or other anesthetic creams instead of hydrocortisone.

• 4

  Apply an ice pack to the bite areas, if there is intense swelling. This will take care of the swelling, and provide some comfort as the bites heal.