Ticks are getting more attention than usual in the United States this spring, and for good reason. In May 2026, the CDC said weekly emergency-department visits for tick bites were higher than usual. Around the same time, the Associated Press reported that tick season appears to be off to a fast start across the country, with clinicians watching closely for a possible rise in tick-borne illness.
That does not mean every tick bite is an emergency. It does mean this is a smart time to review how to prep for tick season, how to lower your risk after time outdoors, and when a single dose of doxycycline after a tick bite, sometimes called Lyme PEP, may actually make sense.
Why ticks are such a big topic right now
The current news cycle is being driven by both exposure and disease burden. The CDC notes that an estimated 31 million people in the United States are bitten by ticks each year. Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne disease in the country, and the CDC says roughly 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year.
CDC surveillance data also show that more than 89,000 Lyme disease cases were reported in 2023, while reminding readers that reported cases still undercount the real number of people treated. The highest-risk U.S. regions for Lyme disease remain the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest, though tick exposure and other tick-borne infections can affect travelers and outdoor enthusiasts in many parts of the country.
A few more points matter here. Ticks do not only spread Lyme disease. Depending on the species and region, they may also spread illnesses such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus, and even trigger alpha-gal syndrome in some people. That is one reason the current rise in tick bites is worth paying attention to.
How to prep for tick season before you head outside
The best prevention plan starts before a hike, camping trip, backyard workday, or long weekend in a wooded area. The CDC’s prevention guidance focuses on reducing opportunities for ticks to attach in the first place.
- Use an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin.
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or buy pretreated gear.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when you are in brushy, grassy, or wooded areas.
- Stay in the center of trails instead of brushing against tall grass and leaf litter.
- Check pets, coats, and daypacks before bringing them indoors.
According to the CDC tick-prevention page, showering within two hours of coming indoors can also reduce Lyme risk and gives you a good opportunity to do a full tick check. That advice is simple, but it is one of the most practical steps people skip.
If you are building out a more complete travel or outdoor kit, it can also help to review a broader packing checklist like this guide to preparing your travel health kit and this carry-on medication guide for international travel.
What to do right after a tick bite
If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as you can. Mayo Clinic advises using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward steadily. Avoid folk remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or burning the tick. Those can delay removal and may increase irritation.
After removal, wash the area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or iodine. If possible, take a clear photo of the tick or save it in a sealed container. That can help a clinician judge whether it looks like an Ixodes tick, also called a blacklegged or deer tick, which is the main tick linked to Lyme disease in the United States.
Then pay attention to timing and symptoms. The CDC says many Lyme infections can be lowered through prevention, but a tick bite still deserves follow-up if you develop fever, headache, fatigue, or a rash in the days or weeks afterward. With some other tick-borne infections, flu-like symptoms may appear quickly and the classic bull’s-eye rash may never show up.
The short answer: remove the tick promptly, document what it looked like, note where the exposure happened, and do not wait too long to seek care if symptoms begin.
When doxycycline PEP may be appropriate
This is the part that often gets oversimplified online. The CDC does not recommend routine antibiotics after every tick bite. Instead, it says a single dose of doxycycline after a tick bite may lower the risk of Lyme disease in certain circumstances.
The CDC’s clinical reference manual says the potential benefit of Lyme prophylaxis is strongest when all of the following are true:
- The bite happened in an area where Lyme disease is common.
- The tick was removed within the last 72 hours.
- The tick appears engorged, meaning it had been feeding rather than just crawling briefly.
- The tick is an Ixodes tick.
- Doxycycline is safe for you based on your medical history and clinician review.
That last point matters. Doxycycline is not automatically the right option for everyone, and a quick medical review is still important. If you want background on the medication itself, Runway also has a doxycycline medication overview.
It is also important not to overpromise what Lyme PEP can do. The CDC manual specifically notes that antibiotic treatment after a tick bite is not recommended as a way to prevent anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or other rickettsial diseases. In other words, a single-dose doxycycline strategy is about selected Lyme-risk scenarios, not a blanket fix for every disease a tick can carry.
How Runway Health’s Lyme PEP solution fits in
If you have had a recent high-risk tick bite and you are trying to figure out whether you meet the CDC criteria, speed matters. Runway Health’s Doxycycline PEP page is built around that post-exposure decision window, with physician review and delivery support designed to make the process more convenient.
There is also a broader Lyme Disease page on the site for readers who want a simpler overview of the condition and treatment pathway. If you are unsure whether your bite counts as high risk, starting with a clinical review is usually more useful than guessing based on social media advice.
That matters especially this year, because the news around ticks can make every bite feel urgent. A better approach is to be calm, document the bite, compare it against CDC criteria, and get medical help quickly when the timing and exposure pattern fit.
When you should seek medical care promptly
You should not rely on a blog post alone if you have symptoms or a complicated exposure. Contact a clinician promptly if:
- You develop fever, chills, body aches, severe fatigue, or headache after a tick bite.
- You notice a growing rash, whether or not it looks like a classic bull’s-eye.
- The tick may have been attached for a long time and you are in a high-incidence Lyme area.
- You are pregnant, have medication allergies, or have another reason doxycycline may not be straightforward.
- You feel unsure about the species, timing, or level of risk.
Mayo Clinic also recommends urgent care if you develop more serious symptoms such as breathing trouble, palpitations, paralysis, or a severe headache after a tick bite. Those are not common, but they are not symptoms to watch at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ticks really worse this year in the U.S.?
As of May 2026, the CDC reported that weekly emergency-department visits for tick bites were running higher than usual, and AP reported that tick season appeared to be starting fast nationwide. That is a real signal, but it does not prove that every region will have the same disease pattern or that every bite leads to infection.
Can I take doxycycline after any tick bite?
No. CDC guidance limits Lyme prophylaxis to specific high-risk situations, including the right kind of tick, the right timing, and exposure in an area where Lyme disease is common. Routine antibiotics after every tick bite are not recommended.
Does doxycycline PEP prevent all tick-borne diseases?
No. A single-dose Lyme PEP approach is meant to reduce Lyme risk after selected Ixodes tick bites. It is not recommended as a preventive strategy for several other tick-borne infections.
What is the best first step after finding a tick?
Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, wash the area, note when and where the bite happened, and take a photo of the tick if you can. Those details make the next clinical decision much easier.
The bottom line
Ticks are a bigger national conversation right now because the early-season data suggest more people are getting bitten, not because every tick bite should cause panic. The most useful response is a practical one: prevent bites when you can, remove ticks quickly, watch for symptoms, and know that Lyme PEP only fits a narrow but important set of situations.
If you have had a recent tick bite and want help deciding whether you may qualify for doxycycline PEP, Runway Health can help you start a consultation online and review your options quickly. Safe travels!
