Bugs crawling on skin

[Juanitalotus]

 :help:Hi, I am new to this site. Desperate for advice or guidance for my 16 year old daughter with an unofficial BPD diagnose but has all the traits. She is currently and has been off and on for over a year been telling me bugs are crawling on her. This has intensified over the last 4weeks to where it’s a daily thing she mentions. Before it was occasional so it didn’t get focused on too much. There are no visible bugs on her. She has talked with therapists Psychiatrists and her pediatrician.no one has provided a solution.  We did a lice treatment. We have bombed her room and the house thinking it might be fleas. We have tried everything even atarax and it doesn’t help. She is on Effexor 150mg and Yaz birth control. I’m at a total loss on what to do next for her. Any advice would be helpful-especially those that have experienced tactile hallucinations.

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[once removed]

hi Juanitalotus, and

this isnt something i have any personal experience with (hoping that folks that have will chime in), or, frankly, would begin to know how to address either. i plugged your question into an AI bot to see if it could shed any light, and got this return (bolding mine):

Seek a Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation: The intensification of tactile hallucinations over the past four weeks is significant. Since therapists, psychiatrists, and her pediatrician haven’t provided a solution, recommend consulting a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist for a fresh evaluation. These sensations could stem from various causes—potentially related to BPD traits (like heightened emotional sensitivity or dissociation), a co-occurring condition (e.g., anxiety, depression, or psychosis), a side effect of medications, or even a medical issue. A thorough assessment could clarify whether this is a primary psychiatric symptom, a medication-related issue (e.g., Effexor side effects), or something else like a neurological or dermatological condition.

Explore Medication Review: Effexor (150 mg) and Yaz are noted, but tactile hallucinations aren’t a common side effect of either. Still, recommend discussing with the psychiatrist whether these medications could be contributing or if adjustments are needed. For example, Effexor can sometimes cause sensory disturbances in rare cases, and hormonal changes from Yaz might influence mood or perception in sensitive individuals. A psychiatrist could also evaluate whether an antipsychotic or anxiolytic (beyond Atarax) might help if the hallucinations are tied to a psychiatric condition, but this would depend on a formal diagnosis.

Consider Medical Causes: Since no bugs are visible and treatments like lice treatment and flea bombing haven’t helped, it’s worth ruling out physical causes. Suggest a visit to a neurologist or dermatologist to check for conditions like neuropathic issues, vitamin deficiencies, or thyroid imbalances, which can sometimes cause sensations of crawling. A pediatrician could order blood tests (e.g., for B12, thyroid function, or glucose levels) to rule these out, especially since the symptom has worsened recently.

Validate Her Experience: For the daughter, feeling bugs crawling on her is very real, which can be distressing. Advise the parent to validate her feelings without reinforcing the belief in physical bugs—e.g., “I can see how uncomfortable this is for you, and we’re going to figure out how to help.” This aligns with BPD-informed approaches, as invalidation can escalate emotional distress. Encourage coping strategies like mindfulness or grounding techniques (e.g., focusing on sensory inputs like holding a cool object) to manage acute episodes, ideally guided by a therapist.

Engage a DBT-Trained Therapist: Since BPD traits are suspected, recommend finding a therapist trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is effective for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. DBT can help the daughter manage intense emotions that might amplify or trigger these sensations, especially if stress or dissociation plays a role. A therapist could also explore whether trauma or anxiety is contributing, as tactile hallucinations can sometimes tie to these in BPD.

Monitor for Safety and Triggers: Tactile hallucinations can be benign but distressing, or in rare cases, a sign of something more serious like emerging psychosis. Advise the parent to gently track patterns—when the sensations occur, their duration, and any stressors (e.g., school, relationships, or medication changes). If she shows signs of self-harm, paranoia, or disconnection from reality, suggest immediate psychiatric consultation.

Support the Parent: Caring for a teen with these symptoms is exhausting. Encourage the parent to join a support group (like those offered by bpdfamily) to share experiences and reduce isolation. Self-care is critical so they can stay grounded for their daughter.

Since the parent specifically asked about tactile hallucinations, you might note that others with similar experiences (e.g., in BPD or related conditions) sometimes find relief through addressing underlying emotional triggers, adjusting medications, or using distraction techniques. However, emphasize that a tailored plan from professionals is key, as causes vary widely.

any of this seem like it might be workable?

[Pook075]

Hello and welcome to the family!

I do not have any experience with the feelings of bugs crawling either; as far as I know that's not an identified BPD trait.  When we're talking about mental illness in general though, not everything fits nicely in a box as a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.

I will pray for your daughter and I genuinely hope you find answers!

[CC43]

Itchy dry skin can feel like bugs crawling even if there are no visible signs of rash. That may be made worse by hormones, vitamin deficiency (eg vitamin D) or environmental factors, like forced air heating, being on a long flight or sun exposure. I deal with itchy dry skin almost all the time and it can drive me a little crazy, even as I type this. Mine is definitely worse at night, when my skin temperature rises as my core temperature drops. The best relief for me is applying ice or a cold compress, or taking an antihistamine, along with regular moisturizing and drinking plenty of water.  As my skin is highly sensitive, certain fabrics, soaps and detergents are unbearable and will provoke itchy rashes, bumps or hives. But those are obvious and wouldn’t seem “delusional.”  Though my dry skin doesn’t appear to be dry, it feels really itchy at times.

[Sancho]

Hi Juanitalotus
I hesitated before responding because it is a bit outside conventional thinking. I have browsed through homeopathic sites over the years, mainly because BPD doesn't really have a particular treatment in the same way as bipolar or schizophrenia.

Anyway there are several remedies that have the description 'like insects crawling on skin'. I know many people think that these remedies are ineffective - and science backs their view.

It interests me though that they come up with such specific symptoms - it has been so for other symptoms as well.

You may/may not like to explore this avenue. If you do I would make sure you approach an experienced homeopath.