A sensation of something crawling on or under the skin — called formication — is one of the more distressing and least talked-about withdrawal symptoms.
Why it happens: This is thought to relate to the same sensory nervous system disruption that causes restless legs and generalized body aches during withdrawal — a temporary miscalibration of how the nervous system processes touch and sensation, not an actual skin condition or infestation.
What tends to help: Cool showers or compresses; loose, breathable clothing; avoiding scratching, which can cause real skin damage even though the sensation itself isn’t caused by anything on the skin; addressing the underlying withdrawal directly tends to resolve this along with other symptoms.
An important reassurance: This symptom, however unsettling, does not mean there is something on or in the skin — it’s a well-documented, temporary withdrawal phenomenon.
Medically reviewed by [pending]. Source: SAMHSA TIP 63.