How to Remove Ticks With a Hair Strand

Ticks are parasites that feed on blood. They attach themselves to animals and humans via a set of "mouthparts" and become engorged with that organism's blood. Ticks carry many diseases, including Lyme disease, that they may transmit to their host. The longer a tick feeds the more likely it is that you or your pets will catch a disease from the tick. The best course of action is to remove the tick as quickly as possible. A number of techniques exist to get rid of ticks. You can use tweezers or thread. However, in a pinch you can use a strand of hair for successful results.

Things You'll Need

• Antibiotic ointment

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Instructions

• 1

  Make a loop in the hair strand. Choose a hair that is long enough to make a loop. Make sure the loop is wide enough to fit over the back of the tick. A loop of a half an inch in diameter should be sufficient.

• 2

  Pass the loop over the tick's body. You want to tie the loop as close to the skin as possible, because this is where the tick's mouthparts are. You want to avoid rupturing the tick's body, since this will release a flood of germ-filled fluid.

• 3

  Pull on the ends of the hair. Once you have the loop situated at the tick's mouthparts, tighten the hair. Pull the hair straight up to dislodge the mouthparts and remove the tick.