Invisible Bugs crawling on skin? Strange sensation...

[Haywoodusmc]

I posted this info before, but it was a reply to someone else's similar post...

I am a 23 year old healthy male. I recently had a full physical and the results were that I am in above average health. I have no diseases, do not use drugs, but drink on occasion.

Anyways, just started noticing these strange symptoms, within the past few weeks. Nothing "brought it on" so to speak that I can tell of. It's been going on longer, but less noticeable, now since I do not talk sleeping meds any more, it's all that I can notice...

Symptoms are strange sensations on my skin. The sensation is it feels like there are "invisible bugs" crawling on, and/or biting my skin. No actual bites, rashes, bugs, sores, or anything of the nature is ever visible. Occurs more at night, while laying down than any other time. The sensation occurs throughout my entire body, no area is exempt from this sensation, and it seems to be completely random, at times I'll feel it on my arm, then my face, then leg, then arm again, etc, no pattern. The sensation "goes away" once I touch the area (either itch it, brush at it as if there WAS a bug I am brushing off, slap it, or touch it in any way...)

I've heard that various forms of dry skin, or minor allergic reactions to soaps could produce such a problem... I have not changed body soaps, shampoos, or laundry detergent types in quite a while (well before such symptoms) I do not have dry skin, or any type of rash.

Ruled out dry skin

I've read about "Morgellons" (years ago, before it was a mainstream idea) and don't think that is what I have... I have no lesions, sores, boils, wounds, or anything of the sort, and no fibers protruding from anything.

Ruling out Morgellons.

I had read about the possibility of it being bed bugs (from reading sites like this online) so I tore my bedroom apart looking for signs of an infestation, and saw NOTHING. My mattress is brand new, the apartment I live in is also pretty close to brand new. Never the less, not a thing was found, searched mattress, box spring, walls near bed, everything.

Ruled out bed bugs.

The only other thing I've seen it could be is Restless Leg Syndrome. NOT sure about that, but I did hear that that sensation in the legs is a symptom of that, and that in some cases, the skin crawling sensation can occur all over the body, not just the legs, and still be considered RLS.

Undecided about RLS possibility.

The only other things I have going on that MAY be related, is an upper back pain/numbness... unknown cause. Been going on for years though. No diagnosis.

So basically I'm out of ideas, and about to go insane. It's terrible at night not being able to sleep because of that feeling, and not being able to sleep with my girlfriend because I keep her awake with my constant moving around and itching...

[TTOistheanswer]

coconut oil is great but if you use it daily it will block your pores. I use jojoba oil or wonder oil (mixture of oils like orange, jojoba and argon oils) which i get from holland and barrett.

[drunkenbutterfly]

Well, I'm moving out of my home and into an extended stay hotel today. Last night the bugs attacked me at 1 am AND 4 am. On the air mattress I was sleeping on in my dining room! I woke up each time even though I'd taken Lunesta. Usually these things settle down for the night after 2:30 or so (they were on a roll for a while there waking me every night at 1:50 am), but last night it was bad. I have done virtually EVERYTHING suggested here and elsewhere except hire an exterminator. I haven't hired one yet because I was afraid they would use the wrong thing thinking it was the wrong bug. I've been trying to collect samples -- every once in a while I go to rub my skin and I feel a tiny white piece of sand. I started putting these on tape about a week ago and today a sample of about 6 or so "sand grains" is on it's way to the agriculture college cooperative for identification. My skin is a mess because a dermatologist told me to cover myself in coconut oil -- I've been doing that, and it works to a certain extent, but I'm now covered in little bumps (pretty sure it is the oil, not bites). I feel like I'm losing it. My life has become a living nightmare. My boyfriend, with whom I live, has never been bothered by these things at all and I think he's had enough of doing nothing but vacuuming up borax all the time. This is truly horrible.

[TTOistheanswer]

haha, yep that should do it.
The sugar feeds the fungus and the fungus attracts the mites.
Easy way to check if you feel them crawling in your nose or/and ears is to put oil in and around these areas. If you feel a hard layer of dead skin in a couple of hours in your nose or ear then you have mites. The oil will suffercate them and they will all come out and die on the surface of the skin.

I actually do this after i shower but all over my body head to toe.

[boxermomtx]

Interesting about the sweets... Mine has been more active since being on a Dark Chocolate Yogurt Raisins kick.

[boxermomtx]

We have a lake out back too and I got a chain of bites which I thought was chiggers.... very itchy.... Didn't respond to anything until pharmacist suggested hydrochordizone.  I also vacuumed my mattress and did hot water for washing.  At the same time, my husband had gotten wrong bottle of detergent last month (we had been using non-perfume).  I still feel like something invisible is crawling on my skin and at times, it feels like something biting the skin.  No sign of fleas on dogs --- although they itch because they're allergic to our grass.  We have our house exterminated quarterly and I've noticed dead teeny-tiny insects around tub area.  Exterminator said they're pesky but harmless.  I'm starting to think it's something with the detergent being perfumed like with you.  

[drunkenbutterfly]

I too have a cat. I'm in the middle of an all-out war on these damn mites and having the cat in the house has complicated it a bit. He has spent several days in the basement because the upstairs is carpeted and the carpet (as well as the bed mattresses) is covered in a mixture of borax and diatomaceous earth, which I plan on vacuuming up tonight. Probably won't let him upstairs until I manage to vacuum everything several times. It can be very dangerous for cats--they inhale the powder and it hurts their lungs. Hell, I think I made myself sick inhaling it so I bought some face masks for when I vacuum it all up.

Today I started treating the cat with diatomaceous earth. I'm hoping that will help if he is infested. I haven't seen him scratching, but I can't imagine the mites aren't on him. On the other hand, the mites haven't bothered my boyfriend at all, only me, so maybe they aren't on the cat. I don't know. I just rub the diatomaceous earth into his coat. Not easy given that he is a 15 pound Maine Coon with longish hair and an attitude.