Tick bites are common, especially during warmer months when outdoor activities increase. While not all tick bites are dangerous, some can lead to rashes that signal a more serious issue– like Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses. Recognizing what a rash from a tick bite looks and feels like is key to getting timely treatment and avoiding complications. In this blog, we’ll break down the typical appearance and symptoms of tick bite rashes, and when you should seek medical care.
For same-day tick bite and Lyme disease treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Clark. Our urgent care center is open seven days a week with no appointments required. Just walk in or plan your visit in advance below!
When Does a Tick Bite Rash Occur?
Once you’ve been bitten by a tick, at most, you’ll have a small, reddish sore on your skin. Sometimes that is all there is, but at other times a rash may appear and extend from that area throughout the body, and if this occurs, it means that the individual has contracted a tick-incited illness like Lyme or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. A tick that has embedded itself into the skin will remain until engorged, usually resulting in a red sore that quickly fades.
What Does A Tick Bite Feel Like?
A reason ticks are such a bother to humans and animals is that it can be difficult to realize when you’ve been bitten by one. Essentially, nothing is felt by most people from a tick bite, no itch, no pain, until tick-borne diseases begin to manifest. This is because ticks are small and their bite is painless as a result of salivary properties that anesthetize the area. So no, you won’t experience any pain either from a tick bite; you might see reddish swelling on the area, or a slight discoloration on the skin at most.
Symptoms of Tick Bites and Tick Diseases
- Chills
- Reddish swelling on parts of the skin
- Rashes
- Slight fever
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Intense fatigue
- Irritation
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- An itch in the affected areas
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Painful swelling on the eyelids
Different Types of Tick-Borne Illnesses
1. Lyme Disease
Tick bites cause all sorts of illnesses, and the most common of them is Lyme disease, which manifests in the form of rashes that appear within a week of being bitten. This breakout will slowly and progressively get bigger over the next few weeks, making the spot feel uncomfortable and warm to your touch. During this first stage, the infected will also start to experience a slight fever, chills, and some joint stiffness. Two to eight weeks after the first tick bite, you will begin to see rashes spread to other parts of the body and experience irregular heart activity, neck pains, and muscle weakness.
2. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever causes rashes to appear all over the body weeks after the tick bite. Apart from the rashes, it also causes high fever, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and sensitivity to light.
3. Southern Tick-Associated Rash
STARI or Southern tick associated spotted fever is another disease which is caused by a specific type of tick, the Lone-star tick, and causes rashes on the body like Lyme disease. The resulting rash usually appears within a week as a circular rash that gradually expands. It is also very hard to diagnose and is often misdiagnosed as lyme disease because of a similarity in symptoms.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
- After spending time outdoors, be sure to check hair, clothing, equipment, and pets for ticks. They love to hitchhike on your scalp, behind your ears, and inside your clothes.
- Take a hot shower upon returning home, it’ll help wash away any ticks that might have attached to you.
- Wash your clothes and gear in hot water to kill them.
You should visit urgent care as soon as you start developing rashes and flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, because it is a sign that you’ve caught a tick-incited disease.
Get Walk-In Tick Bite & Lyme Disease Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Clark
If you notice a rash developing after a tick bite– especially one that resembles a bull’s-eye, spreads, or is accompanied by flu-like symptoms– it’s important to take it seriously. Early diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne illnesses can make a significant difference in recovery. When in doubt, come visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Clark for a prompt evaluation. Our medical team can assess your symptoms, recommended testing, and provide the necessary care to help you heal and stay healthy. Our facility accepts most health insurance plans and offers low-cost options for any self-paying patient. If you have any additional questions about the services we provide, please contact us directly at (732) 301-5114 to speak with a member of our team.
