My MIL insists that there are bugs biting her. Any advice?

Thank you all so much. I think it is a combination of all of the above. Some dementia, skin sensitivity, trying to find a way to go back to her home from the assisted living home, etc. I am going to try the Cera Ve this afternoon and see if that helps. I really appreciate the advice.

My mother (87 with diabetes & moderate dementia) had imaginary bugs biting at her for a while. She covered the floor to keep them from getting through imagined cracks in the floor. The dermatologist couldn't find anything except some self injury from scratching. Mom applied a hydrocortisone creme for longer than she should have. I couldn't get her to stop. It didn't help with the itch, I don't think. She doesn't complain about the itch or bugs anymore, so I guess it got better with time.

One thing you can try is buy a skin lotion like Cerave and tell her it will help with the problem. Tell her it is known to moisturize, soothe, and repel bugs. It might help and certainly won't hurt.

When my Mom was taking Oxycotin she was itching her skin alot. Could be side affect of a medication.

Assuming there are no bite marks (including on body parts not normally seen), and the furniture and beds have been inspected, she might have some condition other than, or in addition to neuropathy, that causes her skin to itch.

Is there any indication if the perceived bite marks are where specific types of clothing (i.e., with elastic) come in contact with her body, or is it a generalized itching?

If you do her laundry, you could also try changing detergent to something without fragrance and most certainly don't use those toxic dryer sheets.

Perhaps a good auto-immune workup might also be helpful.

In the meantime, ice cubes work for me to calm itchy skin, although it may be uncomfortable for an older person because it does chill the skin. Mint lotion is also helpful, but it needs to be a good organic mint lotion, not something from China.

My mom is experiencing this and there are no bugs what so ever, however she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's which of course brings on hallucinations. Hopefully you've had her physician rule this out?

Sounds like neuropathy, or a side-effect to a medication. Does she get much exercise? Sometimes sitting or lying down for too long can create a tingling sensation that might feel like bug bites. You could ask her doctor if hydrocortisone creme would be effective.

Thank you. I have tried that to some extent . She is taking Lyrica and it helped before but now it seems to have lost the effect.

She may have a stinging sensation from some sort of neuropathy. It might not be a bad idea to have a Neurologist take a look at her. Medications like Lamotrigine may help. Diabetics are particularly at risk for this sensation.