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April 17, 2025
Mites may be small, but bites can have a major impact on your health. These small insects carry Lyme disease and many other diseases. This will create a quick and appropriate removal key.
So, what should you do if you find it on your skin? I asked an expert.
1. Remove the tick properly
The faster you remove the mites, the lower the risk of infection. Use fine tip tweezers to bring the tick as close to the skin as possible, focusing on the head where it is attached. Instead of pulling straight, rotate the tweezers on a 180-degree turn to remove them more easily.
“Don't squeeze the mites,” says Saeed Hussein, MD, medical director at Hartford Health Care Emergency Care. “In doing so, the mites can release their contents into the skin, increasing the risk of infection.”
2. Cleans up the bite
Once the mites are removed, thoroughly clean the chewing sites with soap and water, friction alcohols, or iodine. Dispose of mites by rinsing them in the toilet or sealing them with tape before throwing them away.
If the mites are congested or implanted for 48-72 hours, Dr. Hussein recommends seeking a doctor's appointment for possible prophylactic antibiotic prescriptions.
> Related: 500,000 Americans may have meat allergies caused by mites
3. Beware of symptoms
Symptoms of tick-borne diseases can manifest three days to a month after chewing. Dr. Hussein tells him to be careful:
Bull rashes occur in about two-thirds of Lyme disease cases. Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, and body pain. Especially pain and swelling in the joints in the knee. In severe cases, there may be shortness of breath, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat, indicating late stage complications of Lyme disease.
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
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Prevents mites from bites
But what is the best way to avoid mites-related illnesses? Don't bite it in the first place. Dr. Hussein recommends:
If you use insect repellents when spending time outdoors, wear closed toe shoes in wooded or grassy areas that perform a full body tick check after outdoor activities. Mites often hide in warm, damp areas, such as under the arms, around the ears, behind the knees, between the legs, between the scalp, or inside the abdomen.
Taking the right steps before, during and after a mites bite reduces risk and stays safe while enjoying the outdoors.
