How to Treat a Tick Bite With Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil has many therapeutic uses and is considered effective in conditions from acne to ear aches. Tea Tree Oil is especially effective in fighting off bugs. A few drops mixed with water can act as an insect repellent or flea remover. Tea Tree Oil can also be used to remove live ticks from your skin. Because ticks pose health risks such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it is important to immediately and fully remove them.

Things You'll Need

• Tea Tree Oil

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Instructions

• 1

  Check your body for signs of ticks if you have spent time in a wooded area. Ticks appear as small black insects imbedded in the skin. Do not remove the tick with your hands -- instead, apply a small amount of Tea Tree Oil to the visible portion of the live tick and the skin surrounding this area. Leave the Tea Tree Oil on for 20 minutes.

• 2

  Observe the tick during this time. It may simply fall off or retreat out of the skin. If not, carefully remove the tick using tweezers. Grasp the tick near the head or mouth and gently pull in order to remove the entire tick body. Do not crush the tick's body or fail to remove it completely. Any remaining portion still has the ability to spread disease.

• 3

  Wash your hands and the area surrounding the tick bite thoroughly after removing the tick. If you notice further skin irritation, a fever, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or a rash, contact your doctor immediately. Also contact your doctor if you are unable to fully remove the tick yourself.