Common Causes
Some conditions that may cause formication include: 1 anxiety. 2 fibromyalgia. 3 Parkinson’s disease. 4 diabetic neuropathy. 5 herpes zoster (shingles). 6 ... (more items)
Related Conditions
The name comes from the Latin word “formica,” which means ant. Formication is known as a type of paresthesia. Paresthesia happen when you feel sensations on your skin that don’t have a physical cause. Paresthesia can take many forms. These can include burning, tingling, or numbness.
What are some conditions that may cause formication?
If a person is experiencing formication, they may be prone to constant scratching. This can break the skin, which can allow bacteria to enter and possibly cause infections to develop.
Why is it called formication?
Bacterial or viral infections from these cuts can cause: Formication caused by neurological conditions or the use of psychoactive substances like ecstasy can lead to delusional parasitosis. This happens when you believe that actual insects are crawling on you. What’s the outlook? Formication is a symptom of an underlying issue that can be treated.
What is formication and how does it affect the body?
What causes formication of bacterial infections?
How do you treat formication?
Radiation therapy may be effective for treating formication caused by skin cancer. In some cases, an antihistamine, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may help reduce the crawling sensations. Take these right after the sensation starts to prevent acute itching episodes.
Is formication a nerve problem?
To be very, very clear, tactile hallucinations and formication are symptoms of neurological disorders and they are symptoms of possible psychiatric disorders. They are also symptoms and conditions of cervical spine and neck instability.
How do you get rid of formication naturally?
Alternative help for Itchy & Irritable Skin (Formication)Almond oil is believed to have anti-inflammatory, moisturising properties to help skin tone and relieve dryness. ... Sandalwood oil is useful when mixed with a base oil to treat dry skin.Aloe Vera applied to the affected area may be cooling and soothing.
Why do I feel bugs crawling on me but nothing is there?
Formication is the sensation of having insects crawling on or under the skin. The name comes from the Latin word “formica,” which means ant. Formication is a tactile hallucination, which means a person feels a physical sensation, but there is no physical cause.
Can dehydration cause formication?
Joints – dehydration may cause joint pain and inflammation. Skin – yes, our skin craves water and lack of liquid may trigger itchy, irritable skin and formication. Constipation or bloating – dehydration causes our digestive system to slow down and reduces mobility in the gut, resulting in digestive issues.
What drug is associated with formication?
Drugs that have been reported to cause formication are Adderall, cocaine, crystal meth, methamphetamine, Ecstacy, MDMA, Keppra, Lunesta, Ritalin, Tridyl, Wellbutrin, and Zyban.
Can anxiety make you feel like your skin is crawling?
Physical symptoms of anxiety include skin crawling or tingling sensations without a medical reason. People describe this sensation differently, but basically anxiety for many people can feel like their skin is crawling or tingling.
What is formication in medical terms?
Formication is a symptom of an underlying issue that can be treated. Medications for certain conditions and stopping the use of recreational drugs usually help you get rid of this crawling sensation entirely. See your doctor if you experience frequent episodes of formication.
What is the feeling of insects crawling across your skin?
Formication is the feeling of insects crawling across or underneath your skin. The name comes from the Latin word “formica,” which means ant. Formication is known as a type of paresthesia. Paresthesia happen when you feel sensations on your skin that don’t have a physical cause. Paresthesia can take many forms.
What is the condition where tiny mites burrow into your skin and lay eggs?
complications from drug use. Formication symptoms are similar to those of scabies. This condition happens when tiny mites burrow into your skin and lay eggs. It’s important for your doctor to identify symptoms that may show that no actual insects are causing your symptoms.
What does it mean when you feel like you have a pins and needles?
Paresthesia can take many forms. These can include burning, tingling, or numbness. With formication, you might also describe the “crawling” sensation as feeling like “pins and needles.”. Formication is also called a tactile hallucination. This means that you’re feeling a sensation that has no physical cause.
How does rehabilitation help with drug addiction?
Rehabilitation treatment can help you address addiction to drugs like cocaine or meth. Rehabilitation can also help you manage formication as a withdrawal symptom during your recovery from drug use. Many support groups for drug addiction exist.
What are the complications of formication?
loss of sensation. ulcers and abscesses. meningitis. heart disease. kidney disease. stroke. Cuts, scabs, and open wounds from constant scratching are a common complication of formication due to the associated itching sensation. Bacterial or viral infections from these cuts can cause:
How to tell if you have fibromyalgia?
Other symptoms can include: aches around your entire body. feeling exhausted. feeling stiff. difficulty concentrating ( often called “fibro fog” in the case of fibromyalgia ) shaking in hands or fingers, or tremors. moving slower over time, a symptom of bradykin esia.
What causes formication?
Formication can occur on its own, or it can be the result of another condition. When formication is a mental condition on its own — without any other problems or symptoms — it is called primary delusional infestation. When it is a symptom of another mental health condition or physical illness, it is called secondary delusion infestation.
What is the difference between formication and Morgellons disease?
Morgellons disease is another type of delusional infestation that’s different from formication in one important way: People with Morgellons believe they are contaminated by non-living materials, not bugs. They have the sensation of fibers, threads, hairs, or splinters underneath their skin.
Will formication go away? What is the treatment?
Formication is difficult to treat. If someone does not believe their symptoms are a hallucination, it can be hard for them to understand the recommended treatment. But if they are open to help, there are several different options.
The bottom line
Formication is the false perception that bugs are infesting your skin. It can be a very uncomfortable and distressing symptom. And it can be hard to help people understand that the bugs are not real. Often this delusion is the result of an underlying mental health condition, medical condition, or drug or alcohol use.
How to treat formication?
If, for example, it is being caused by medication, a change of medication can be used to resolve the formication. Medications and medical procedures used to manage the itching and tingling associated with neuropathies can also be employed to treat formication.
What is formication in a patient?
Patients with formication experience crawling, biting and stinging sensations of the skin 1). Formication is a type of tactile hallucination. Formication has many causes include various medical ...
What is formication in medical terms?
Formication is a type of tactile hallucination. Formication has many causes include various medical conditions, altitude sickness, prescription drug side effects, and drug withdrawal. Formication is often associated with delusions of parasitosis, where patients have a fixed, false belief that they are infested with parasites or other organisms 2). ...
Why are non-pharmacologic interventions limited?
Non-pharmacologic interventions have limited use for formication patients because the underlying disorder is psychosis. By definition, psychotic patients cannot be talked out of a delusion, or else they would not have a delusional disorder in the first place.
Do you believe that a living thing is causing your sensations?
Some patients explicitly state that they do not believe the sensations are due to a living thing, while other patients have considered an infestation as a possible cause for the symptoms but are not convinced that this is the case.
Is formication a psychotic condition?
By definition, when patients are not certain whether they have an infestation or if they believe they do not have an infestation, these patients are not psychotic as they do not have a fixed and absolute delusional ideation. Formication by itself can still warrant the use of drug therapy because it can be debilitating.
Where does the word "formication" come from?
History. Formication is etymologically derived from the Latin word formica, meaning " ant ", precisely because of this similarity in sensation to that of crawling insects. The term has been in use for several hundred years.
What is formication in a drug?
Formication can be a result of stimulant intoxication or withdrawal ( methamphetamine, Datura, cocaine, MDMA aka ecstasy) or alcohol withdrawal in alcoholics (i.e. delirium tremens ), and is often accompanied by visual hallucinations of insects (formicanopia).
What does it mean when you feel formication?
Formication may sometimes be experienced as feelings of itchiness , tingling, pins and needles, burning, or even pain. When formication is perceived as itchiness, it may trigger the scratch reflex, and because of this, some people who experience the sensation are at risk of causing skin damage through excessive scratching.
What is it called when you believe your skin is inhabited by a parasite?
In these cases, patients have what is known as delusional parasitosis. They believe that their skin is inhabited by, or under attack by, small insects or similar parasites, despite repeated reassurances from physicians, pest control experts, and entomologists.
What does it mean when a bug crawls on your skin?
Abnormal sensation that bugs are crawling on or under the skin. Not to be confused with Fornication. Medical condition. Formication. Specialty. Psychiatry, neurology. Formication is the sensation that resembles that of small insects crawling on (or under) the skin when there is nothing there. It is one specific form of a set ...
What is the term for the crawling of animals over the skin?
It is described as exactly like the crawling of myriads of animals over the skin.". Formication is a specific form of the general set of abnormal skin sensations known as paresthesias and tactile hallucinations.
Why is it called the matchbox sign?
This clinical presentation is called the "matchbox sign" because patients have often used a matchbox to collect the material. Now small plastic bags are commonly used for this purpose. Delusional parasitosis may be a shared illness, in which some of the patient's close contacts also believe they too are infested.
What is the effect of ants on your skin?
This illusion or hallucination that ants or other insects are creeping on or under the skin is a common side effect of large-scale use of cocaine, amphetamines ("amphetamites"), or crystal meth (also known by street names such as "ice," "glass," "chalk," "crank," "meth mites," or "coke bugs.") Formication is also a side effect ...
What is the term for a sensation similar to that of insects crawling over or within the skin?
Formication, essentially a tactile hallucination, is an abnormal skin sensation similar to that of insects crawling over or within the skin.
What are the areas of the body that are most affected by formication?
People suffering from formication, particularly if they are delirious or intoxicated, may pick and scratch themselves to such an extent that they trigger self-induced bleeding and excoriations of the skin on areas easy to reach: the face, scalp, neck, thighs, and forearms.
When did bugs crawl on skin?
The false sensation of bugs crawling on or within the skin was first reported in chronic cocaine users in 1889. Patients with drug-induced formication often have an associated fixed delusion of parasitosis: a form of psychosis in which sufferers hold a delusional belief they are infested with parasites and claim to have seen "bugs" ...
Is parasitosis a disease of drug abuse?
Delusions of parasitosis that are not related to drug abuse are more common among middle-aged and elderly women. Patients with this disorder may be fully functional, but nevertheless have a false belief that they are infested with parasites.
What is the effect of formication on the brain?
This is caused by the altered sensory functions of the brain during a drug high.
What is the false feeling of bugs crawling under someone's skin?
What is Formication ? Formication is the false feeling of “bugs” crawling under someone’s skin. It comes from the latin word “formica” which means ants. This is called a sensory hallucination that is commonly experienced by those who take stimulant types of drugs.
How does drug formication affect the brain?
This article highlights what drug-induced formication is and how to make it stop. The use of illicit drugs can alter many portions of the brain , including those responsible for perceiving sensation. Aside from visual and auditory hallucinations, people can easily have different experience in their sense of touch after the use of drugs.
How to tell if a bug is crawling on your body?
You may notice them try to scratch, pinch, or rub their skin to get rid of the sensation. In other instances, you may also notice them exhibit feelings of fear as if they actually saw the bugs that appear to be crawling on their body.
Why do I hear sounds when I'm on a drug?
This is caused by the altered sensory functions of the brain during a drug high. When the brain enters an altered state, some sensations may be distorted or emphasized. Visual stimuli may appear colorful or warped. The person may also start to hear sounds and whispers that aren’t physically existent.
When did formication start?
The first patients who reported chronic formication were those who used cocaine back in 1889. After the sensation was reported increasingly, the term became more known as “coke bugs”, “amphetamites”, or “meth mites” depending on the drug that is being used. Patients who have this problem would also have co-existing dermatosis caused by ...
What to wear for skin scratching after formication?
To prevent worsening of old lesions and formation of new ones, it is best to wear protective clothing . For example, one can wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, gloves or socks to prevent scratching the skin. Protective clothing can serve as a barrier until a person fully recovers from drug-induced formication.
What is formication in medical terms?
Formication is a type of paresthesia. Paresthesias are defined as dermal sensations with no apparent physical cause. Paresthesias include sensations such as prickling, tingling, or numbness sensations many define as "pins and needles.".
What causes paresthesia?
Neurologic conditions that put pressure on the nerves, such as a tumor, can also cause paresthesia. Nerve entrapment syndromes, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, can damage peripheral nerves and cause paresthesia that is also associated with pain. Metabolic: There are many systemic, metabolic conditions that can result in damage to the nerves ...
What does it mean when you feel something crawling on your skin?
Formication symptoms explained. Formication is the medical term for a sensation of something (usually small insects) crawling on or under the skin. Often formication is associated with no obvious physical cause or external trigger. It is a fairly common occurrence many people can remember a time where they swatted or scratched at such ...
Why does my hair crawl in my head?
Though it is easy to think that the feeling of something crawling in the hair or on the body is "all in your head," there are concrete causes from the environment that may be causing your symptoms as well. Parasitic: Small, parasitic insects such as lice that feed on their host's blood and propagate by personal contact are a very common cause ...
What causes a tickling sensation in the pubic area?
Parasitic: Small, parasitic insects such as lice that feed on their host's blood and propagate by personal contact are a very common cause of such symptoms. They can inhabit the head, body and even pubic area and cause sensations of tickling or movement in addition to intense itching.
Can formication be treated?
Yes, formication can be treated. Treatment will depend on the specific cause of your symptoms whether they are psychiatric or medical in nature. Your diagnostic team will include a multifaceted team of physicians including dermatologists, psychiatrists, and medical doctors.
Can formication be a chronic occurrence?
If periodic or occasional, formication can be a natural sensory occurrence that quickly resolves without much effort or thought; however, when such sensations become chronic or incessant, medical attention may be required. Individuals who experience chronic symptoms of formication may go on to develop symptoms such as:
Pharmaceuticals & Narcotics That Cause Formication
Alcohol and certain recreational and pharmaceutical drugs can bring on tactile hallucinations during the withdrawal process. This is normally a temporary condition. Drugs reported to trigger this condition include:
How Drugs Cause Formication
The reasons why drugs may produce this condition are complex. The root cause can be dysregulation of the dopamine system. Once the drugs have been introduced into the body, they penetrate the Central Nervous System and stimulate it. They then bind to norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
Formication: A Form of Delusional Parasitosis
This condition is a primary form of Delusional Parasitosis (DP). A person exhibiting these hallucinations may not have any other mental health issues. It matches the DSM’s Delusional Disorder, Somatic Type. The secondary DP form is associated with people who also have an existing mental illness like Schizophrenia or Anxiety.
Other Symptoms of Drug-Induced Tactile Hallucination
Beyond the sensation of bugs crawling inside and outside the body, there are other symptoms associated with the drug-induced tactile hallucination. Some for these are:
Getting Help
Drug-Based Formication is a delusional condition caused by alcohol and drug abuse. A logical first step to cure the condition is to detox from the addicted substance. People who wish to detox should seek advice and care of a healthcare professional or an addiction treatment facility.