formication : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

What is Formication?

Formication is the feeling of insects crawling across or underneath your skin. Formication is known as a type of paresthesia

What are the causes of Formication?

Some conditions that may cause formication include:

• anxiety
• fibromyalgia
• Parkinson’s disease
• diabetic neuropathy
• herpes zoster (shingles)
• Lyme disease
• skin cancer, such as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
• perimenopause

What are the symptoms of Formication?

The main symptom of formication is the sensation of bugs crawling on or underneath your skin. This feeling also causes you to feel itchy. This can cause you to scratch your skin where you feel the sensation, even if there’s no actual cause of the itch.

Constant scratching or picking to satisfy an itch can lead to skin damage and open cuts. These open cuts can get infected and lead to other conditions, such as skin ulcers or open wounds.

Formication can happen at the same time as other symptoms, depending on the underlying cause. 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 bradykinesia
• feeling depressed
• feeling angry or agitated

What are the tests to diagnose Formication?

Doctor diagnosed Formication by asking questions and through physical examination:-

• any other symptoms that you’ve noticed in addition to formication
• what time of day the crawling sensations are most noticeable
• what medications you’re taking and whether you noticed the sensations after you started taking those medication
• any recreational psychoactive substances that you’re currently using

What are the treatments of Formication?

Treatment for formication depends on the cause. A long-term treatment plan may be necessary for fibromyalgia, diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease to manage symptoms and complications. 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.

If formication is caused by using prescription or recreational drugs, quitting that drug may help stop the sensation completely. However, don’t stop using a prescription drug without first consulting your doctor. They may recommend an alternative medication that doesn’t cause formication in case you need that type of medication for another condition.

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. These can provide you with a community to share your experiences with as you cease drug use.