Say What? Health & Medicine

Delusions of skin infestation may not be so rare

Researchers calculate the U.S. prevalence of ‘delusional infestation’

hand with magnifying glass

NOT SEEING ISN’T BELIEVING Patients with delusional infestation undertake elaborate self-examinations in search of the offending invaders, using magnifying glasses, tweezers and photography.

Manuel-F-O/istock

By Aimee Cunningham

- More than 2 years ago

Delusional infestation
de-LU-zhen-al in-fes-TAY-shun n.

A deep conviction that one’s skin is contaminated with insects or other objects despite a lack of medical evidence.