Much of what people “know” about Lyme disease is outdated or simply wrong — and these myths have real costs, because they delay diagnosis and treatment. Here are the seven we correct most often in clinic.
Medically reviewed by Elyssa A. Blissenbach, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician.
Myth 1: No Bullseye Rash Means No Lyme Disease
The erythema migrans rash appears in most infections — but not all, and when it does appear it often is not a textbook bullseye. Solid red patches, oval shapes, and rashes hidden in the scalp or behind a knee all count. Here is what the rash actually looks like in its many forms.
Myth 2: You Would Know If a Tick Bit You
Nymphal ticks are the size of a poppy seed, their saliva numbs the bite site, and they favor places you do not see — scalp, groin, behind the ears. Many diagnosed patients never recall a bite.
Myth 3: There Is No Lyme Disease in Florida or the South
Risk is lower than in the Northeast, but it is not zero — Lyme disease is reported across the Southeast, travel-acquired infections come home with you, and the South has its own tick-borne illnesses, including STARI from the lone star tick and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Myth 4: A Negative Test Right After a Bite Rules It Out
Antibody tests measure your immune response, which takes weeks to develop. Testing in the first days after a bite proves nothing either way — here is why early tests come back negative.
Myth 5: Burn the Tick Off, or Smother It with Vaseline
Heat and chemicals irritate an attached tick and can make it regurgitate into the wound — raising infection risk. Fine-tipped tweezers and steady upward pressure, nothing else. The full five-step response is here.
Myth 6: Once You Have Had Lyme Disease, You Are Immune
Infection does not confer lasting immunity — reinfection is well documented. Prevention matters just as much the second season.
Myth 7: Lyme Disease Is Untreatable and Always Becomes Chronic
The opposite of the truth. Standard antibiotic courses cure the large majority of infections, especially when treated early. A minority of patients have lingering symptoms — post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome — which deserves real medical attention, not fatalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do these myths persist?
Lyme disease guidance has evolved substantially over two decades, and old advice circulates online long after it is outdated. When in doubt, rely on your physician and current CDC guidance.
What is the single most costly myth?
Waiting for a bullseye rash. Treating early — on the basis of exposure and symptoms — is what prevents complications.
Where should I start if I suspect Lyme disease?
With a physician who takes a careful exposure history. Testing has a role, but timing and interpretation matter more than the test itself.
Northeast Florida Internal Medicine treats Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in person in Jacksonville and via telemedicine for patients in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician with any questions about a medical condition.