I think a recent period of emotional strain compromised my immune system, allowing the body's flora to propagate exponentially, resulting in crawling, tickling and itching sensations, red bumps and welts, tiny spontaneous cuts and purple streaks.
I've been bagging my clothing, changing clothes multiple times per day and vacuuming and doing laundry daily and self-treating with a series of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications and supplies such as tea tree oil and coconut oil (applied to the skin) and bathing nightly in borax/epsom salts water (5x/week) and dilute bleach (2 x/week).
The symptoms have receded to the point that I need only two major treatments (bath or shower, preceded by alcohol and followed by tea tree oil, coconut oil, etc.) per day, whereas I had needed four to six shower/treatments daily. I carry a bottle of tea tree oil and a borax-soaked sponge for spot treatments on the fly. The bumps and itching and tickling sensations occur mostly around the head, face, neck, shoulders and stomach (the T-bone area.)
Yesterday I saw my third dermatologist, who prescribed a medication for my nerves that requires an EKG screening before I can take it. The session was rushed, and I didn't have time to mention all my symptoms and history. I've also made such good progress on my own that there were no visible symptoms at the time of the examination.
To diagnose a demodex infestation requires a skin scrape test, where oil is applied to various parts of the body and then scraped on to slides and examined under a microscope. He did not mention doing this, but I'd like to know what I have before I resume social contact with loved ones, which have been suspended for going on five months.
The crawling sensations, mostly at night, over 4 months resulted in sleep deprivation so severe that I blacked out while driving and ran into someone. I began having panic attacks with suicidal ideation. With Xanax I am getting adequate sleep.