The CDC does not recommend using soap, petroleum jelly, etc to try to "smother" a tick.
Questions, Answers | CDC Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Quote:
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No. Folklore remedies, such as the use of petroleum jelly or hot matches, do little to encourage a tick to detach from skin. In fact, they may make matters worse by irritating the tick and stimulating it to release additional saliva or regurgitate gut contents, increasing the chances of transmitting the pathogen. These methods of tick removal should be avoided.
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