Beth Skwarecki Beth Skwarecki Senior Health Editor Experience Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor, and holds certifications as a personal trainer and weightlifting coach. She has been writing about health for over 10 years. Read Full Bio April 22, 2026 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google We may earn a commission from links on this page. Credit: Aleksey Matrenin - Shutterstock Table of Contents As tick populations grow (thanks, climate change) and tick-borne diseases like Lyme  become more widespread , tick checks have become routine for many of us. But do you really know what it means to “check yourself for ticks”? Chances are, you’re missing some important parts of the process. You only need a tick check when you've been in the woods Are you conscientious about tick checks when you're camping, but only when you're camping? Ticks live in more places than just the woods, and most parts of the U.S. are home to at least one tick species.…