Tennessee is expected to see a bigger tick season this spring and experts are advising that if you find one in your skin you pull it out the right way.
The CDC says illnesses from flea, tick and mosquito bites have tripled since 2004. That includes cases of life-threatening diseases like West Nile, Zika, and Lyme disease.
Dr. Karen Vail is a professor with UT's Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. She said many people are scared of ticks for good reasons.
"Their mouthparts will work their way in and some have barbs on their mouthparts. That's why it's very difficult to pull them out. People get freaked out about ticks because they attach to them and drink the blood. They are also freaked out because they could transmit a disease to them," Dr. Vail said.
Dr. Vail said if you find a tick in your skin you need to use tweezers to get it out. If you use your hand and squeeze it, you could be squeezing, potentially infected blood, back into your body.
While Lyme disease is not common in Tennessee, there are many other diseases you can get from a tick. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is one of those diseases doctors notice more of this time of year.
"This disease will give you flu like symptoms. You can also get a rash and you could get worse and worse as the illness progresses," Dr. Justin Quinn said.
Generally you have to have the tick on your skin 24-72 hours before a tick-borne illness is present and experts said one way we get exposed to them is from pets.
Experts suggest tucking in your pants to your socks, keeping your lawn clean, and always use repellant.