Method of removing ticks from the skin and reducing the risk of bites

Abstract

Compositions and method of using the same for the removal of ticks embedded in the skin or tissue of a human or animal host and for preventing ticks from attaching themselves to and biting humans or other animals.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Continuation of Ser. No. 11 / 512,555, filed Aug. 29, 2006, the priority of which is claimed.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]This invention relates to compositions, articles containing compositions, and methods of use of the compositions, for rapid and efficacious removal of ticks (Arthropods) attached to a mammal.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Ticks have life cycles starting with eggs produced by adult females. These hatch and progress to larvae, nymphs, and adults. With Lyme disease, the bite of the nymph offers the greatest risks to humans and animals and that of the adult less so. The disease causing pathogen of Lyme disease is found in the gut of the blacklegged ticks where it remains inactive until warm blood enters the gut and enables it to grow and then move to the mouth of the tick. This process takes anywhere from 24 to 36 hours. Other tick-borne disease pathogens have even shorter growth periods. The soft-shelled tick, Ornith...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a new and improved composition and method for removing ticks from the skin of subjects such as humans and other animals and reducing the risk of tick bites.

[0010]These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by applying a composition containing salicylic acid and an astringent to a tick and / or to a subject near the tick in an amount sufficient to disengage the tick from the subject. The salicylic acid and the astringent are applied in amounts sufficient to render ineffective cementitious substances secreted by ticks to attach themselves to the skin and to constrict blood vessels near the skin and thereby keep blood away from the skin where ticks might feed upon it. In some embodiments, the composition is applied to the skin before a tick has attached itself to a subject to prevent ticks from attaching themselves to and biting the subject.

Problems solved by technology

This process is not always so simple.

However, these household remedies may not be safe due to the potential danger of burning skin when applying heat or because many of the chemicals can be unhealthy and adversely react with human skin causing irritations or rashes.

However, using aerosol canisters are undesirable due to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere that may cause pollution and depletion of the Earth's ozone layer.

However, these methods may not be as effective at removing ticks due to the dilution of the effective chemicals.