What Are the Consequences of Leaving a Tick Head under Your Skin and Why Should You Save the Tick for Testing?
Contrary to popular opinion, leaving a tick’s head in your pet’s skin does not make you more susceptible to tick-borne disease, but it increases your risk of having infections. The tick’s mouth and head are usually filled with germs that can lead to various skin disorders [5].
In some cases, the tick’s head may fall out on its own. A hard bulb may appear in the area where the tick’s head was embedded after your skin heals.
Experts advise people to save the body of a tick after removing it from your pet’s body. Save the tick for 30 days so it can be tested on. Ticks are small and can crawl out of tight spaces. To save the body of a tick, you can suffocate it in a towel soaked with alcohol, and keep it in a small, closed container (such as, an airtight glass jar).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise people to not crush a tick with your fingers.