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What Causes Itching And Burning Sensation Under The Surface Of Skin?
Question: i have been having a bad irritating sensation under the surface of my skin. On my head mostly in my hair. It just keeps getting worse. At first I would feel something as if there were something crawling on me but there was nothing there. I let it go I thought I was crazy then it started feeling like more of a sensation sometimes itchy burning and then stinging. I felt it around a hair follicle so I plucked it. I noticed the pore was considerably larger but nothing came crawling out so I just kept going until I felt a bad sting big time and it was where one of the hairs I had plucked landed. When I tried to wipe it off I couldn't it was latched on. And this just got worse they were everywhere huge welts on my face. I tried going to the emergency room thinking surely I'm not the only person that's ever had this. They accused me of being on drugs. I was so humiliated I left. The longer I live like this the worse it gets in my clothes my furniture. I tried going to the primary care he sent a strand of my hair to a lab to be tested again thinking I was crazy. Finally one day I was in the waiting room at the doctors office and there going in my eyes up my nose they've literally taken over I begged the nurse to atleast look she immediately noticed the enlarged pores and I told her to come outside and look I will pull some strings of my hair out and she can see for herself and the wind was blowing that day and all the hairpieces bluelight except for one latched onto the piece of paper and that's when she noticed there was something there. I can't live like this anymore it's taken over my whole life I need help! That doctor treated it as scabies at it temporarily fixed it but he does not want to treat it!!!! Can you help me please????
Brief Answer:
These symptoms can occur due to some psychogenic causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. First of all I'd like to tell you that there is nothing serious in these symptoms and these symptoms can be treated effectively. The symptoms like sensation of itching and irritation in hair and skin followed by symptoms of bugs crawling under skin could be occurring due to some underlying stress or anxiety. Though it is not common to see such symptoms in anxiety but sometimes few patients develop such symptoms and show compulsive hair plucking. You have plucked hair and nothing came out, visited to ER and doctors but no one could ascertain a proper cause so in such case we have to rule out some psychiatric cause behind such symptoms. Some times under influence of stress individuals develop such symptoms. Trichotillomania is one possibility for such symptoms and need proper evaluation.
But before making psychogenic causes as likely possibility I'd advise you to consult a dermatologist for proper evaluation of your symptoms. Psychogenic itching can cause such symptoms. Scabies can be one possibility but in scabies itching all over the body is seen and night time aggravation of symptoms are seen. Still take proper treatment of scabies. Medicines like Permethrin and Ivermectin are used in scabies. But in my opinion these symptoms are not occurring due to scabies because hair plucking is not commonly seen in scabies.
Once we rule out dermatological cause then we are left with psychogenic causes as the reason for your symptoms. You have been to ER and doctors and they couldn't find out exact cause and this also strengthens the diagnosis of stress and anxiety. Under unconscious anxiety individual develop irritation like sensation and in order to relieve the irritation they start checking or scratching head and sometimes even pluck the hair. Please visit a doctor or if possible at least once to a psychiatrist for proper treatment. Please don't get distressed your symptoms would improve with proper medicines.SSRIs like Fluoxetine, Paroxetine etc can help to reduce the irritation like symptoms and you will see improvement in your symptoms.
Visit a psychiatrist to rule out the causes.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Take care.
Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.
These symptoms can occur due to some psychogenic causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. First of all I'd like to tell you that there is nothing serious in these symptoms and these symptoms can be treated effectively. The symptoms like sensation of itching and irritation in hair and skin followed by symptoms of bugs crawling under skin could be occurring due to some underlying stress or anxiety. Though it is not common to see such symptoms in anxiety but sometimes few patients develop such symptoms and show compulsive hair plucking. You have plucked hair and nothing came out, visited to ER and doctors but no one could ascertain a proper cause so in such case we have to rule out some psychiatric cause behind such symptoms. Some times under influence of stress individuals develop such symptoms. Trichotillomania is one possibility for such symptoms and need proper evaluation.
But before making psychogenic causes as likely possibility I'd advise you to consult a dermatologist for proper evaluation of your symptoms. Psychogenic itching can cause such symptoms. Scabies can be one possibility but in scabies itching all over the body is seen and night time aggravation of symptoms are seen. Still take proper treatment of scabies. Medicines like Permethrin and Ivermectin are used in scabies. But in my opinion these symptoms are not occurring due to scabies because hair plucking is not commonly seen in scabies.
Once we rule out dermatological cause then we are left with psychogenic causes as the reason for your symptoms. You have been to ER and doctors and they couldn't find out exact cause and this also strengthens the diagnosis of stress and anxiety. Under unconscious anxiety individual develop irritation like sensation and in order to relieve the irritation they start checking or scratching head and sometimes even pluck the hair. Please visit a doctor or if possible at least once to a psychiatrist for proper treatment. Please don't get distressed your symptoms would improve with proper medicines.SSRIs like Fluoxetine, Paroxetine etc can help to reduce the irritation like symptoms and you will see improvement in your symptoms.
Visit a psychiatrist to rule out the causes.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Take care.
Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
I have a psychiatrist and he was the doctor that I was finally physically able to show my symptoms to. I had little black specs under my nails from were they burrow under my nails and n the pores. He treated me with the Premarin it was awesome the little black specs start rising to the surface I was able to wipe them off little by little. But for some reason it didn't get them all off so they just came right back. I have a high deductible insurance plan I can't afford to go to a mother doctor but my psychiatrist won't treat me until there gone because he says it's not his area. I was hopin the doctor could treat me with Premarin until it's gone!!
Brief Answer:
Stress can cause weird itching like sensation in skin
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
As I have mentioned earlier also that under influence of stress an individual may develop iteration or weird sensations in skin, some times this may be mistaken as bugs crawling under skin. This irritation result in individual checking or scratching the affected area again and again. Some times this progresses to compulsive hair pulling. Obsessive checking and anxiety is related to these symptoms. Premarin is an oestrogen formulation and is usually used in a number of conditions like hot flashes, vaginal dryness etc.
Though the drug resulted in relief still in my opinion other medicines like Fluoxetine or Paroxetine should help you. These medicines will reduce the irritation and weird sensation in head and you will feel better. If psychiatrist is not willing for treatment then in such case visit a GP and ask for prescription of either of these drugs after explaining your symptoms. These medicines will help you in coming out of your symptoms.
Thanks, Still have more doubts please ask again.
Stress can cause weird itching like sensation in skin
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
As I have mentioned earlier also that under influence of stress an individual may develop iteration or weird sensations in skin, some times this may be mistaken as bugs crawling under skin. This irritation result in individual checking or scratching the affected area again and again. Some times this progresses to compulsive hair pulling. Obsessive checking and anxiety is related to these symptoms. Premarin is an oestrogen formulation and is usually used in a number of conditions like hot flashes, vaginal dryness etc.
Though the drug resulted in relief still in my opinion other medicines like Fluoxetine or Paroxetine should help you. These medicines will reduce the irritation and weird sensation in head and you will feel better. If psychiatrist is not willing for treatment then in such case visit a GP and ask for prescription of either of these drugs after explaining your symptoms. These medicines will help you in coming out of your symptoms.
Thanks, Still have more doubts please ask again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Oh I'm sorry no that's no the medicine I'm talking about I'm talking about the lotion you put on your body that kills the bugs . You put it all over including on your scalp leave it on for 8 hours shower and rinse and do it again for 5 days. It treats body infestations. I apologize for the misunderstanding.
Brief Answer:
Its probably Permethrin lotion that is used all over body
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for correcting me
It is probably Permethrin lotion that is applied all over the body. It is one of commonly used drug for Scabies. But that should treat your infestation. Your symptoms are still persisting and this needs evaluation. As I have mentioned earlier also consider psychogenic causes also. Take shower twice a day and apply moisturising lotions all over body. This will divert your attention. Take green tea and this will help you in relaxing yourself.
Start taking Multivitamin supplements containing Vitamin B12 (cobalamine), Pyridoxin as this will reduce the anxiety.
Thanks, Hope this helps. Please dont hesitate to ask a follow up for more uncleared doubts.
Its probably Permethrin lotion that is used all over body
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for correcting me
It is probably Permethrin lotion that is applied all over the body. It is one of commonly used drug for Scabies. But that should treat your infestation. Your symptoms are still persisting and this needs evaluation. As I have mentioned earlier also consider psychogenic causes also. Take shower twice a day and apply moisturising lotions all over body. This will divert your attention. Take green tea and this will help you in relaxing yourself.
Start taking Multivitamin supplements containing Vitamin B12 (cobalamine), Pyridoxin as this will reduce the anxiety.
Thanks, Hope this helps. Please dont hesitate to ask a follow up for more uncleared doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Can you not give me a prescription for the lotion?
Brief Answer:
Persistent insomnia increases stress and depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for a follow up question
I am sorry but the online prescriptions are not accepted by chemists so couldn't write the prescription because of legal problems by pharmacy laws.
Permethrin 5% is available on online sites and you can purchase the lotion without prescription from there. You have to confirm if that is available over the counter in your area. 5% lotion is used for skin.
Even 10% is available more easily but this should be made to 5% concentration by mixing equal amount with any neutral body lotion. But I am not 100% sure about this method. Try to get 5% lotion for skin.
But in my opinion apart from Scabies the stress and anxiety issues should also be treated. Please try not to ignore my advise.
Thanks, Still have some more questions then please ask again.
Persistent insomnia increases stress and depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for a follow up question
I am sorry but the online prescriptions are not accepted by chemists so couldn't write the prescription because of legal problems by pharmacy laws.
Permethrin 5% is available on online sites and you can purchase the lotion without prescription from there. You have to confirm if that is available over the counter in your area. 5% lotion is used for skin.
Even 10% is available more easily but this should be made to 5% concentration by mixing equal amount with any neutral body lotion. But I am not 100% sure about this method. Try to get 5% lotion for skin.
But in my opinion apart from Scabies the stress and anxiety issues should also be treated. Please try not to ignore my advise.
Thanks, Still have some more questions then please ask again.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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