formication

Meaning

An abnormal skin sensation similar to that of insects crawling over or within the skin; a tactile hallucination involving such a sensation. A common side-effect of substance abuse, it can also be experienced with high fever, menopause, skin cancer, diabetic neuropathy, or herpes zoster.

Synonyms

numbness

tingle

crawling sensation

crispation

myrmeciasis

Translations

مشي النمل

Kribbelgefühl

αιμωδία

rillingen

karıncalanma

Etymology

Circa 1700, from Latin formīca (“ant”) + -tion.