Can Black People Get Lyme Disease and Tick Bites?
Black people can get tick bites and Lyme disease
Ticks can be harder to spot and rashes easier to miss
Recognition may improve earlier diagnosis
Yes. Black people can get ticks, tick bites, and Lyme disease. Risk depends on exposure to infected ticks rather than race, although ticks and rashes may be harder to recognize on darker skin.
Using data from Geisinger electronic medical records, researchers identified 9,657 Lyme disease cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2014 in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.
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Moon and colleagues found that more than 97% of the Lyme disease patients were white non-Hispanic. Only 0.9% were Hispanic and 1.4% were Black non-Hispanic.
These numbers do not mean that Black people cannot get tick bites or Lyme disease. Ticks can attach to people of any skin color, and Lyme disease can occur in anyone exposed to infected ticks.
Why might Lyme disease be diagnosed less often in Black patients?
The authors suggest that “the low-density semi-rural and suburban communities close to wooded, brushy, or grassy landscapes favored by ticks are more likely to be white and affluent,” and therefore this population may have greater exposure risk in the region studied.
However, different socioeconomic levels, outdoor leisure activities, access to health care, and awareness of Lyme disease may also play a role.
“There is some evidence,” the authors write, “that African-Americans may be at higher risk than whites for delayed diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease,” writes Moon, citing a study by Fix. [2]
Can ticks be harder to see on darker skin?
Ticks can be difficult to see on anyone, especially when they attach to the scalp, behind the knees, under the arms, or in other hidden areas. On darker skin, a tick or rash may be less obvious, particularly if clinicians and patients are not expecting Lyme disease.
This makes careful tick checks important after outdoor exposure. Patients may also benefit from reviewing bad signs after a tick bite.
Can Black people get ticks in their hair?
Yes. Ticks can attach to the scalp, hairline, ears, neck, and other hidden areas regardless of hair texture or skin color.
Because ticks can be tiny and easy to miss, scalp and hairline checks are important after time outdoors, especially in wooded, brushy, grassy, or tick-endemic areas.
Can Lyme rashes look different on darker skin?
Yes. The classic bull’s-eye rash is not always present, and Lyme rashes may be subtle or mistaken for other skin conditions. On darker skin, redness may appear less bright, or the rash may look darker, violaceous, swollen, or less sharply defined.
Recognition matters because an early Lyme disease rash may support a clinical diagnosis even when early testing is negative.
Why delayed recognition matters
Delayed diagnosis can lead to delayed treatment. Lyme disease may begin with a tick bite, rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, body aches, or neurologic symptoms. Some patients do not recall a tick bite or never notice a rash.
Testing can also be negative early in infection. For broader diagnostic context, see Lyme test accuracy.
Patients and clinicians should not dismiss Lyme disease based on race, skin color, geography, or the absence of a classic bull’s-eye rash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Black people get ticks?
Yes. Ticks can attach to Black people and people of any skin color after exposure to wooded, brushy, grassy, or tick-endemic areas.
Can Black people get Lyme disease?
Yes. Black people can get Lyme disease if bitten by an infected tick. Lyme disease risk depends on exposure, geography, tick attachment, and recognition, not race alone.
Do Black people get tick bites?
Yes. Tick bites can occur in Black patients, but ticks may be missed if they are small, hidden in the scalp or skin folds, or not considered during evaluation.
Can Black people get ticks in their hair?
Yes. Ticks can attach to the scalp, hairline, ears, and neck regardless of hair texture or skin color.
Do ticks prefer certain races or skin colors?
No. Ticks seek hosts based on exposure and contact opportunities rather than race or skin color.
Can Lyme disease be missed in Black patients?
Yes. The literature cited by Moon and colleagues suggests that Black patients may be at higher risk for delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Can Lyme rashes be harder to recognize on darker skin?
Yes. Redness may be less obvious on darker skin, and Lyme rashes may not appear as a classic bull’s-eye.
Clinical Takeaway
Black people can get tick bites and Lyme disease.
Lower reported diagnosis rates in one Pennsylvania electronic medical records study may reflect differences in exposure, geography, awareness, access to care, rash recognition, and diagnostic delay.
Lyme disease should not be dismissed because of race or skin color when symptoms, exposure history, or tick bite risk raise clinical concern.
Related Articles
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Lyme disease in children rising in Pennsylvania
Lyme disease symptoms guide
Lyme disease misdiagnosis
References
- Moon KA, Pollak J, Hirsch AG, Aucott JN, et al. Epidemiology of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania 2006-2014 using electronic health records. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019;10(2):241-250.
- Fix AD, Peña CA, Strickland GT. Racial differences in reported Lyme disease incidence. Am J Epidemiol. 2000;152(8):756-759.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
Could being a Southerner affect the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases?
Yes.
Interesting, however in my case, white female undiagnosed for 20+ years with access to endless doctors who had no clue and treated me horribly, so …
Thanks for sharing your frustration.
I’m african american suffering from Lyme Borreliosis and Candida for a few years. I’ve gone from physician to physician without treatment. I’m tired and weary. I see the disparity of treatment with regards to demographic info. My mother died from the same symptoms I’m experiencing. I just want help. I’ve spent my life savings on life sustaining treatments for my mother and I. In Alabama but willing to travel but require a physician who accepts Medicare/ Medicaid and Igenex results!
Hello sir.
Did you ever get help or diagnosed?
MX Hayes,
You should join the Facebook Lyme groups! I got so much information. The Lyme Support and Wellness is the most helpful, but I’m in about 5-6 groups. I learn something new everyday. I’m so sorry you are going thru this. It took 17 years of misdiagnosis to finally get a Lyme diagnosis for myself. You need a Lyme Literate Dr(LLMD). There is a directory online, if you Google that phrase! I wish you so much luck!
I have met many with darker complexions who couldn’t see the rashes or ticks in their scalps, etc.