The signature rash of a Lyme tick bite looks like a solid red oval or a bull’s-eye. It can appear anywhere on your body. The bull’s-eye has a central red spot, surrounded by a clear circle with a wide red circle on the outside. The rash is flat and usually doesn’t itch. The rash is a sign that the infection is spreading within your skin tissues. The rash expands and then resolves over time, even if you’re not treated. Thirty percent or more of people with Lyme disease don’t remember having the rash (9).Even fewer people remember a tick attachment. Estimates range from 20 to 50 percent (10). The ticks in the nymph stage are the size of poppy seeds, and their bites are easy to miss.The initial red rash usually appears at the site of the bite within 3 to 30 days (11). Similar but smaller rashes can appear three to five weeks later, as the bacteria spread through tissues (12). Sometimes the rash is just a red blotch (1, 13). The rash can also take other forms, including a raised rash or blisters (14).
If you do have a rash, it’ s important to see your doctor to get treated promptly.