Feeling of something crawling on my skin

Environmental causes

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 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.
• Medication: Certain prescription drugs, corticosteroids, and some antibiotics, for example, may induce formication and its associated symptoms.

Medical causes

Chronic paresthesia, in general, is usually a symptom of an underlying condition or problem affecting the nerves. Although paresthesia specifically involving the sensation of crawling on the head or under the skin is more commonly associated with psychological causes, it is also important to consider medical causes of symptoms as well.

• Neurologic: Paresthesia can be caused by disorders affecting the central nervous system, such as strokes and multiple sclerosis (MS). 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 of the body. These conditions affect the way that the nerve sends and receives signals from the brain and spinal cord and disrupts proper sensory function. Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and vitamin deficiencies often result in paresthesias, though they are less associated with crawling sensations specifically.

This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas such as the scalp, face or inside the ear. It can occur with or without reddened skin. The exact cause of this condition is not known, although doctors think that some common skin yeast organisms, called Malassezia, may play a role in some people.

You should go to a retail clinic to be treated. There are a variety of medicated creams that are used for this condition such as prescription or over-the-counter shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, hydrocortisone, selenium sulfide, or salicylic acid.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: itchy rash, red or pink, rough patch of skin, rash with well-defined border, scalp skin changes, cheek skin changes

Symptoms that never occur with seborrheic dermatitis: fever

Urgency: Phone call or in-person visit

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)

Ringworm of the scalp, also called tinea capitis, is caused by a microscopic fungus and not by an actual worm.

Any type of ringworm is easily spread through direct contact with a person, or a pet animal, who has the infection; or through direct contact with the hairbrushes, clothes, towels, bedding, or other items that an infected person has used.

Most susceptible are pre-school and school-age children, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Symptoms include itchy, scaly, round-appearing patches of hair loss on the scalp.

It is important to see a medical provider for symptoms of scalp ringworm, both to help ease the discomfort and to prevent the spread of the condition to others.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination and sometimes a skin sample for testing.

Treatment involves washing all clothes and bedding in hot water and detergent, and using an antifungal shampoo as well as a prescribed cream or gel for the affected spots on the scalp. Sometimes a course of antifungal tablets will also be prescribed.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: scalp itchiness, patchy hair loss, scalp redness, scaling of the scalp, rash

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Normal episode of itchy skin

Itchy skin is also called pruritis. There are a number of "normal" causes for itching, meaning the cause is not disease-related and does not result in seriously damaged skin.

The most common causes are:

• Dry skin, due to bathing in soap or bubble bath that may be too harsh and is stripping the natural oils from the skin.
• Mild allergies, which may be caused by dust; certain plants and flowers; nickel-containing jewelry; and any sort of soap, detergent, lotion, or perfume.
• Pregnancy, due to stretching of skin or to a condition called prurigo. Prurigo causes small, itchy bumps which may be due to an autoimmune system dysfunction during pregnancy.
• Menopause, due to hormonal changes that may leave the skin overly dry.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination and sometimes allergy tests.

Treatment involves bathing only with mild, hypoallergenic soap; regular moisturizing with unscented lotion; wearing soft, loose, non-synthetic clothing; avoiding any substances that seem to provoke the itching; and sometimes prescription medicated creams.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system. The body's immune system attacks nerve fibers and their myelin covering. This causes irreversible scarring called "sclerosis," which interferes with the transmission of signals between the brain and the body.

The cause is unknown. It may be connected to a genetic predisposition. The disease usually appears between ages 20 to 50 and is far more common in women than in men. Other risk factors include family history; viral infections such as Epstein-Barr; having other autoimmune diseases; and smoking.

Symptoms include numbness or weakness in arms, legs, or body; partial or total loss of vision in one or both eyes; tingling or shock-like sensation, especially in the neck; tremor; and loss of coordination.

Diagnosis is made through patient history, neurological examination, blood tests, MRI, and sometimes a spinal tap.

There is no cure for MS, but treatment with corticosteroids and plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) can slow the course of the disease and manage symptoms for better quality of life.

Head lice

Lice are tiny insects without wings that are usually found in hair, back of the neck, and behind the ears. Lice are highly contagious and prevalent in preschool & elementary school-age children.

You should go to a retail clinic to be treated for lice. Treatment includes using a medicated shampoo, cream rinse, or lotion to kill the . Over-the-counter and prescription medications are also available.