The NHS advised calling 111 if you spot a specific shape on your skin (Image: Getty)
Brits are urged to “call 111” if they spot a specific shape on their skin. This unusual pattern could indicate Lyme disease, which is typically caused by tick bites.
Ticks are tiny, spider-like creatures that inhabit long undergrowth and latch onto animals, including humans, when they walk through tall grass. They are becoming increasingly prevalent in parts of the UK, primarily due to expanding deer populations.
While feeding, they can transmit viruses and infections that lead to illness, with Lyme disease being the most common. Although Lyme disease can be treated quickly with antibiotics, it can have serious health consequences if not caught soon enough.
Therefore, you should seek help as soon as you spot any of the signs of the illness.
According to the NHS, a circular or oval-shaped rash around a tick bite is an early symptom of Lyme disease in some people.
One symptom of Lyme disease is a rash that looks like a bullseye (Image: Getty)
This rash usually appears within one to four weeks but it can appear up to three months after being bitten. It can last for several weeks.
“The rash may be flat, or slightly raised, and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin,” the NHS explains.
“It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise.” The rash may look like a bullseye on a dartboard, the NHS says.
Other common symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- A high temperature
- Feeling hot and shivery
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Tiredness and loss of energy
The NHS says you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you’ve been bitten by a tick or visited an area in the past three months where infected ticks could be, and you either:
- Feel unwell with flu-like symptoms – such as feeling hot or cold, feeling shivery, headaches or aching muscles
- Have a round or oval shape rash
Cases of Lyme disease
Figures published in a new report by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) show that Lyme disease remains the most common locally acquired vector-borne infection in England, with 1,168 laboratory-confirmed acute cases reported in 2025. This figure is higher than numbers reported in 2024 (959 cases), and very similar to case numbers from 2023 (1,151 cases).
In recent years the agency has seen rates of Lyme disease vary substantially, but trends in 2025 were consistent with what we have previously seen. The UKHSA said: “While we have seen an increasing distribution of ticks across the UK, tick numbers vary from year to year due to changes in weather conditions, climate trends, habitat changes, and shifting host populations.
“Tick bites can occur year-round, but continue to follow a seasonal distribution, increasing in late Spring and peaking in June, and reports of acute Lyme disease follow a similar trend with cases peaking during late summer.
“These figures demonstrate the importance of the public taking simple precautions such as avoiding tick bites and being aware of signs and symptoms after spending time outdoors. If you have been bitten by a tick, remove it as soon as possible using a tick removal device, following its instructions, or a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. “
The report also confirms two unrelated probable cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) complex identified in 2025.
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What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is most commonly spread to humans via infected ticks. However, not all ticks are infected – it is estimated that around 10% of ticks in the UK carry Lyme disease.
Serious side effects
Some people with Lyme disease can experience severe side effects, which is more likely if treatment is delayed.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says these can include:
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness
- Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
- Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints.
- Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis)
- Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Nerve pain
- Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
Protecting yourself from ticks
To reduce the chance of being bitten by a tick the NHS says you should:
- Cover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks
- Use insect repellent on your clothes and skin – products containing DEET are best
- Stay on clear paths whenever possible
- Wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to see and brush off
To safely remove a tick the NHS advice is:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
- Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it
- Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water
For more information, visit the NHS website here.