If you find a tick on your skin, remove it as soon as possible, Wormser said. The CDC recommends grasping the tick's body as close to the skin's surface as possible using fine-tipped tweezers; pulling upward with steady pressure and no twisting; and then cleaning the remaining bite wound with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Do not try to burn the tick off or use chemicals to remove it, Wormser urged.
"If you can get the tick off within 24 hours, you're not going to get Lyme disease," Wormser said. You can also bring the tick with you to a doctor's appointment, he said. A doctor who specializes in Lyme should be able to examine the tick and tell you how long it's been attached to your skin and whether you're at risk of Lyme.
Related: Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise. Here’s how to protect yourself.
"You should do a tick check every 24 hours if you've been outside," Wormser said. "To do a good tick check, you really need a second person, because it's hard for you to see all the areas where the ticks could be biting you."