Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) are small blood-sucking insects that live on the body of infested humans and in their clothing or bedding, particularly the seams.
Many people suffer from the feeling that insects, mites, or other tiny creatures known as arthropods are biting them, crawling on them, or burrowing in their skin.
Formication is the sensation that bugs are crawling on or under your skin when they don't really exist. Causes include mental health conditions such as depression, medical conditions like Parkinson's disease, certain prescription medications, or drug use.
Microscopic bugs called microbes can be found in your eyes, mouth, gut, skin, and everywhere else. But don't be alarmed. Most of your microbes are useful. They help you digest food.
Booklice are soft and have two pairs of wings with long antennae. They tend to hop around and you may find these tiny dots appearing on wet and moist spaces including crawl spaces, books, tiles and basement. In fact, there are over 3,000 species of book lice and they are also known as Psocids.
The critters are also called “snow fleas” because they're more noticeable on snow. They gather in large numbers and look like jumping flecks of black pepper. However, snow fleas aren't only found during the winter. They're active all year round.
Usually, the mites don't cause any harm. But too many can cause a skin condition called demodicosis (also called Demodex folliculitis).
Ectoparasites include ticks, fleas, lice, and mites, which either attach or burrow into the skin.
In some cases, an antihistamine, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may help reduce the crawling sensations. Take these right after the sensation starts to prevent acute itching episodes. Shop for Zyrtec and Benadryl.
Most mites do not bite humans, but they may bite if they remain on a person's skin. In general, mite bites cause mild skin irritation and itching and do not require medical attention. People can treat mite bites with OTC and prescription antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and allergy injections.
The only arthropod capable of burrowing into the skin is the scabies mite. These are easily diagnosed by dermatologists. In extremely rare cases (an exposed skin wound, or by ingestion of contaminated food) fly maggots (myiasis) can infest human flesh. Again, these are easily diagnosed by a physician.
In most cases, the bites of these mites cause an itchy skin rash, which may feature small lumps or pimples. “The skin might be very itchy or red for a few days, but then that will taper off,” Merchant says of mite bites. Ice and anti-itch creams like hydrocortisone can help control the swelling and itching.
Self-Checks
Rash: Small red bumps, nodules, or pimple-like irritations, which are most commonly located on the webbing between fingers, on the inner part of the wrist, under the arms, and on the elbows, knees, and along the belt line can occur. Scabies does not usually affect the face and scalp.
The scabies rash takes the form of small, red bumps that may look like pimples, bug bites, hives or knots under the skin. You might be able to see the burrow tracks created by the mites, which appear as raised lines of tiny blisters or bumps. Some people develop scaly patches that resemble eczema.
Unfortunately, your bed is probably where you'll find the highest concentration of mites. Like the common bed bug, mites love to make their homes in mattress pads and pillows. You can protect yourself against mites by enclosing mattresses and pillows in dust-proof covers.
While mites rarely transmit disease to humans in the United States, they definitely impact health in ways that range from simply being a nuisance when they enter homes in large numbers, to inflicting severe skin irritation that can cause intense itching.
Dust mites are found in beds, couches, and rugs, and cause eyes to itch, noses to run, and skin to crawl.
"Water showering alone is not effective at removing mites," says Brown. "It can deter them and rinse away some of them, but most mites hide in the crevices or undersides of leaves and will not be affected by showering the plant." Repeat the process weekly to keep the mites from taking over your plant again.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
The no-see-ums (Leptoconops torrens) belong to the family Ceratopogonidae and are about 1/16-inch long. They are so tiny they could pass through window screens, but they don't, Kimsey said. However, they can and do slip beneath loose clothing, unnoticed, to get a blood meal.
Dust mites can be difficult to detect due to their small size. These microscopic arthropods are estimated to be only 1/4 to 1/3 millimeters long. You can only see them under a microscope, and even then, they only look like small white spider-like creatures.
While some mites—like the mostly harmless dust mite—are all but impossible to completely eliminate from your home, troublesome biting mites are comparatively easier to treat. Rat mites and bird mites, for example, can often be eradicated simply by removing any small rodents, birds and bird nests from your home.