Can you wash ticks out with shampoo?
I was out caving yesterday and apparently picked up a passenger on the trail either on the way up or back down the mountain.
I discovered it in my hair on the back of my head while showering. It was a tick, but it wasn't stuck to my scalp and it appeared to be dead.
I put it on the counter while I pondered why it hadn't attached itself over night, then after a few minutes it started to move again, slowly at first, then it started to stagger around as if it were intoxicated (shortly after which I sent it on it's way down the porcelain express).
The only thing I can figure is that my shampoo somehow knocked it out and made it loose it's grip. Has shampoo been known to remove ticks?
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I have never heard of shampoo being a tick deterrent or being more efficient at tick removal than say washing your hair simply with water.
If you are in an area where diseases transmitted by ticks are an issue then I'd suggest you use the common safety procedures:
- vaccination
- search your body before going to bed/while showering (it's best to have somebody help you for hard-to-observe places)
- try to limit activities which will expose you to many ticks (e.g. crawling through think underbrush, etc.)
If you find a tick remove it quickly and safely, see our related question How should I remove a tick?. I wouldn't bother fussing around with shampoo.
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I agree shampoo is not the way to go with removing ticks. The CDC has a short explanation of removing them: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html Do make sure to get checked out by a doctor if you start feeling sick, it could be something serious.
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It is exactly the opposite: fat or oil can help to remove ticks; the fat layer blocks air oxygen for them, they start to suffocate and try to detach. So the ticks may feel better after you wash them!
However, while I have seen this method working, the trick of removing with fat is no longer recommended as it adds chances to transfer the disease from these ticks.
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Yes, shampoo can help wash ticks out of your hair. That's why it's always recommended to shower soon after returning from an activity where you may have collected ticks. Ticks typically won't attach themselves for many hours after landing on your body. ( I've heard that they won't attach for 24 hours but not sure I believe it.)
I use a shampoo container eucalyptus and spearmint, both of which are natural repellents. Is it foolproof? No, but it helps. You must still perform a visual inspection and take all other precautions.
Once a tick attaches itself to begin feeding, only a physical removal will work. At this point, shampoos and soaps won't do a thing.
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