What on earth is this on my knee!!!?

[Mumma2Ro]

I just noticed it when I was shaving my legs.
it’s not painful or anything

I took doxycycline as anti malarial, prescribed, went away to Cambodia on them and no problems.

Gosh I also drank alcohol while I was away and had no idea I shouldn't have done 😱

I had doxycycline once and they worked very well.

Don't be scared to take them. I did feel fluey with sore joints for about 12 hours over night after I started taking mine when I got lyme disease. This is apparently common when doxycycline starts killing off the lyme bacteria. It did go by the next day. I was on holiday at the time and a day later was able to go back to doing holiday things.

But sadly best not to drink with it, it reduces its effectiveness apparently.

Take the full course, any side effects will be mild compared to Lymes disease, believe me.

Of course you should take them and finish the course. I was just pointing out that you have to be responsible and aware that IF you experience any very rare side effects you need to seek medical advice. IF you need to seek medical advice abroad you will need proper insurance. It is sensible to inform your travelling companions so that they can assist if necessary.
None of the above means that you should panic and not take the very important and necessary medication.

I am so glad I am retired from the NHS.

A tick bite normally the rash is a bit raised and scaley

Not
a tick bite as the rash isn’t raised and scaley

Wrong

This is completely incorrect.

OP's picture shows a textbook bullseye tick bite.

NHS advice also says it isn't always raised / scaly:

The rash may be flat, or slightly raised, and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin. It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise.

OP I'm laid back about tick bites, we get them all the time.

You have the bullseye rash; take the antibiotics!

Doxycline is a very commonly used antibiotic. It's made me feel a bit queasy before, it is well worth it to avoid possible Lyme's.

Very shocked the GP and nurse didn't give you antibis, tbh.

Completely wrong. And for the record plenty don't have the classic bullseye look. They can often be just red.

Lyme disease is not something you want to risk leaving untreated. Take the Doxycycline even if it is unpleasant. I have a family member still very unwell after Lyme about 5 years ago. Really don't take any chances. And bring good suncream on your holidays. You skin gets extra sensitive to the sun whilst on Doxycycline.

@ArabeIIaScott why do you keep taking risks getting bites all the time and then just expecting antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is a real thing especially people taking them Willy nilly.

Glad you have the antibiotics OP. Lyme disease can ruin your life if not caught quickly enough.

Isn't it usually a few days between tick bite and bullseye rash rather than within 24hrs?

If I am ever concerned I send the tick to a lab for testing, it's £50 though but worth it for peace of mind - if it has been feeding for a good while.

I have never taken antibiotics for a tick bite.

I've taken doxycycline loads and been fine. Think you have to be careful in the sun though.

Make sure you eat before you take the doxycycline. I had it as an anti-malarial and it was fine apart from when I accidentally took it on an empty stomach a couple of times. Then it was horrible!

While we are talking about Lyme disease, people often don't get the traditional bullseye rash. Often there is no rash at all. Sometimes it can look rather different. I got a disseminated rash when I had it. Large scarlet entirely smooth oval patches that looked like I'd been scalded. It was traced back to a tick bite I'd had and fully resolved with doxycycline. No long term effects thank goodness. If you are aware you've been bitten by a tick, always note when it happened and see a GP if you subsequently become ill. Lyme disease is not the only disease they carry.

https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/rashes.html shows a good library of lyme rash images.

Would you get the rash that quickly If it were Lyme disease?

I get bites like that from mosquitoes so that would be my guess if it were me.

I mentioned earlier on in the thread that it was unlikely to have been from that same day, however sounds like OP is out with her dog quite a lot so could even have been from weeks ago.

Sorry, I am guilty of not having read all the comments.

The puppy is very young so I assumed only recently going out. Unless I missed an older dog too……