The Dangers of Removing Ticks with Your Fingers, According to a Nurse

A nurse has warned against removing ticks with your fingers, as it can cause the tick to regurgitate its stomach contents into your body, increasing the risk of infection. The proper way to remove a tick is by using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin's surface as possible and pulling upwards steadily. Folklore remedies like burning the tick or suffocating it with petroleum jelly are risky. Ticks can spread diseases including Lyme, so it's important to get checked out if you develop a rash or fever after a tick bite.