Formication

This is the sensation of having insects crawling on or under your skin. The name comes from the Latin word formica which means ant.

Formication is a kind of hallucination, which means a person feels a physical sensation, but there’s no physical cause. The sensation can lead to itching, which may be worse at night and can be severe enough to interfere with sleep.

Formication is linked to several medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, shingles and fibromyalgia, as well as withdrawal from some drugs.