How to Check the Human Body for Ticks

How to Check Your Body for Ticks at a Glance

Use good lighting and inspect your body in the same order each time. A systematic check is more reliable than looking only at exposed skin or areas that feel unusual.

1. Check clothing, shoes and outdoor equipment.
2. Inspect your feet, ankles and lower legs.
3. Move upward and check behind the knees and along the thighs.
4. Inspect the groin, waist, belly and navel.
5. Check your back, armpits, arms and elbows.
6. Inspect your neck, ears, hairline and scalp.
7. Use a mirror or ask another person to help with areas you cannot see.
8. Examine small bumps or dark spots closely before touching or removing them.

A dark spot or raised area is not automatically a tick. The guide How to Identify a Tick explains common tick features and possible look-alikes.

Where Do Ticks Commonly Attach on the Human Body?

Ticks may attach almost anywhere. Warm, protected, hairy and difficult-to-see areas deserve particular attention, but they should be checked as part of a complete body inspection.

Scalp and hairline

Check the scalp by parting the hair into small sections. Inspect the hairline, the crown of the head and the area where the hair meets the neck.

Thick or long hair can make small ticks difficult to see. A second person, mirror or the Tick Camera may help with a closer inspection.

Behind and around the ears

Look carefully behind both ears and around the outer ear. Check the folds around the ear and the area between the ear and hairline.

Neck and back of the neck

Inspect the front, sides and back of the neck. Pay particular attention to the area beneath the hairline and around shirt collars.

Armpits and inside the elbows

Raise each arm and inspect the entire armpit and surrounding skin. Continue down the arms and check the inner elbows.

Chest and under the breasts

Inspect the chest and any areas where skin touches skin. Check under the breasts and around clothing edges when appropriate.

Waist, belly and navel

Look along the waistline and around areas covered by tight clothing. Check the belly, navel and nearby skin folds carefully.

Groin and intimate areas

Check the groin and nearby skin folds privately and carefully. A hand mirror may help you inspect areas that are difficult to see.

Back and buttocks

The back and buttocks can be difficult to inspect alone. Use two mirrors or ask a trusted person to help with the check.

Legs and behind the knees

Inspect both legs completely, including the inner thighs and the areas behind the knees.

Feet, ankles and between the toes

Check the ankles, feet, soles and spaces between the toes. Pay attention to sock lines and areas around footwear.

Full-Body Tick Check: Step by Step

Following the same order each time makes the check easier and reduces the chance of missing an area.

1. Move to a well-lit and private place

Choose a room with bright, even lighting. Use a full-length mirror, hand mirror or phone light when necessary.

Make sure you have enough privacy to inspect covered areas thoroughly.

2. Check your clothing first

Ticks can remain on clothing before attaching to the skin. Inspect clothing worn outdoors, including:

• Trouser legs and cuffs
• Socks and shoes
• Waistbands and belts
• Shirt collars and sleeves
• Jacket seams and pockets
• Hats and other headwear

3. Begin at your feet

Start with the soles, tops and sides of both feet. Check between the toes and around the ankles.

Working from the feet upward gives the check a clear structure and makes it easier to remember which areas you have already inspected.

4. Check both legs completely

Inspect the lower legs, calves, shins and knees. Bend each knee and check the skin behind it.

Continue upward along the thighs and inspect the inner thighs carefully.

5. Inspect the groin and waist

Check the groin, nearby skin folds and the areas around underwear or clothing edges.

Continue around the waist, hips, belly and navel.

6. Check the chest, back and armpits

Inspect the front of the torso before checking the sides and back. Raise both arms and examine the armpits and the surrounding skin.

Use mirrors or ask another person to help inspect the middle and lower back.

7. Inspect the arms and hands

Check the shoulders, upper arms, elbows, forearms, wrists and hands. Look between the fingers and around rings, watches or wristbands.

8. Check the neck, ears and hairline

Inspect all sides of the neck and the skin behind and around both ears. Check the entire hairline, including the forehead, temples and back of the neck.

9. Check the scalp in sections

Part the hair into small sections and inspect the exposed scalp gradually. Work from one side of the head to the other.

Run your fingertips gently over the scalp while looking for small bumps, but do not rely on touch alone.

10. Recheck suspicious areas

Look again at any small bump, dark spot or unusual area. Use better lighting, a mirror or a camera view before attempting to remove anything.

Have You Found a Small Bump or Dark Spot?

A tick may appear as a small dark or brown spot attached to the skin. Depending on its size and feeding stage, it may be flat, slightly raised or more rounded.

However, many other things can look similar, including:

• Moles
• Skin tags
• Scabs
• Dried blood
• Small pieces of dirt or plant material
• Other skin changes

Do not scratch, squeeze or pull forcefully at a spot that you have not identified.

Instead:

1. Move into better lighting.
2. Look at the area from several angles.
3. Check for a separate body and visible legs.
4. Use magnification or the Tick Camera when helpful.
5. Avoid repeatedly disturbing the area.
6. Seek medical advice when the spot remains unclear or concerning.

When Should You Check Your Body for Ticks?

Check yourself after spending time in places where ticks may be present, including wooded, grassy or brush-covered areas.

A check may be useful after activities such as:

• Hiking
• Camping
• Gardening
• Walking through long grass
• Working outdoors
• Hunting or fishing
• Walking a dog
• Spending time in a park or garden

Ticks may also be carried indoors on clothing, equipment or pets. Examine these items as part of your routine rather than checking only your skin.

Check before settling indoors

Inspect exposed skin, clothing and equipment soon after returning. Remove outdoor clothing carefully and check it before placing it with other laundry.

Shower and perform a complete body check

Showering soon after outdoor activity provides an opportunity to wash away unattached ticks and complete a full-body check.

Check again later when necessary

A second check can be useful if the first inspection was rushed, lighting was poor or you were unable to inspect the scalp and back properly.

How to Check for Ticks After Hiking →

Found an Attached Tick: What Should You Do?

An attached tick should be removed carefully. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a suitable tick-removal tool, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward slowly and steadily.

Avoid squeezing or crushing the tick’s body. After removal, clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or an appropriate antiseptic.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

After removal, these guides may also be useful:

Common Mistakes During a Body Check

Checking only exposed skin

Ticks may move beneath clothing before attaching. Covered areas should be included in a complete check.

Looking only at the legs

Although ticks may first contact the lower body, they can move to the torso, neck, scalp or other protected areas.

Forgetting the scalp

Small ticks can be difficult to see beneath hair. Part the hair into sections and inspect the scalp gradually.

Skipping the back and groin

Private or difficult-to-see areas are easy to overlook. Use mirrors or ask a trusted person for help when appropriate.

Relying only on touch

An attached tick may feel like a small bump, but many normal skin features can feel similar. Always look at the area carefully.

Pulling at every dark spot

Not every dark or raised area is a tick. Inspect the spot before attempting removal.

Forgetting clothing and equipment

Ticks can remain on clothing or outdoor equipment and attach later. Include these items in your check.