sensitive prickly feeling skin

it feels like my nerves are on the outside of my skin, like I can feel my hair grow...it is like itchy but no rash. This is very irratating! I really do not know how to describe it, except as I have said very sensitive, electrical, ..... I also go thru these umbearable cold, hot sweats; at work I bring a couple changes of clothes and think this is brought on by my meds, anti-depressants and narcotic. how can a doctor help someone like me?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
This feeling of electric and itchy sensations that you are having are called Paresthesia. Chronic paresthesia indicates a problem with the functioning of neurons. Parasthesias are common in alcoholics and metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypoparathyroidismThey can also be due to peripheral vascular disease, vitamin B12 deficiency or malnutrition.

Get your blood sugar and thyroid hormones levels evaluated. You can take some vit B12 for some days and see if the tingling is gone or not.

In case the symptoms persist then please consult a neurologist as it can be due to some neurological disorder.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.