Editorial correction — October 10, 2026: This letter replaces an earlier version that presumed an infectious explanation, treated response to psychiatric medication as evidence of misdiagnosis, and requested that Morgellons be ruled out before any treatment. Those inferences exceeded the cited evidence. The revised letter asks for assessment, symptom care and reassessment without requiring a predetermined diagnosis.
Use this letter as a starting point for a visit with a dermatologist, psychiatrist or other clinician. Personalize it with your symptoms and goals. Pair it with a brief timeline, previous reports and selected dated photographs from the Clinical Visit Pack.
A letter you can adapt
Dear Dr. [Name],
I am seeking help with persistent skin symptoms that I have described as Morgellons. My main concerns are [lesions, sensations or other symptoms], which began [date] and affect [sleep, daily activities or other functions]. My priority is an assessment and a practical plan to reduce symptoms and protect my skin.
I have brought a short history, my current medicines and allergies, previous test reports, and a few dated photographs. I would appreciate examination of the affected areas and documentation of the findings. If sampling or specialist review would help answer a specific clinical question, please explain what it could establish and what its limitations would be.
I do not want my preferred explanation to replace an assessment. I would like possible skin disorders, infection where clinically indicated, medication effects and other relevant causes considered. I am also willing to discuss mental health symptoms and support when appropriate. Please help distinguish the findings you can document from interpretations that remain uncertain.
If you recommend a test, could we discuss whether it is validated for the question being asked, the possibility of false results, and how the result would change care? If a screening questionnaire is used, please explain what it can identify and what further assessment is needed before making a diagnosis.
If you propose treatment, I would like to understand the working diagnosis, the evidence for the treatment, expected benefits, important risks and costs, and what monitoring is needed. Improvement or lack of improvement may inform the plan, but I would appreciate an explanation of what it can and cannot tell us about the underlying cause.
Please help me agree on a plan for skin care and symptom relief, the outcomes we will monitor, and a date to reassess. What changes should prompt earlier contact? If referral is appropriate, please explain its purpose and how we will coordinate follow-up.
Thank you for taking my symptoms and concerns seriously and helping me work toward a plan we can evaluate together.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Contact details]
Why the letter leaves the diagnosis open
The CDC-led investigation identified no common infectious source and noted similarities to delusional infestation. The 2015 Borrelia study reported an association in a selected filament-defined group. These were different study populations; neither provides an automatic diagnosis for the person carrying this letter.
Reports of improvement with doxycycline and trifluoperazine with counseling are useful observations, but their uncontrolled designs cannot establish a universal cause. The letter therefore asks for clinical reasoning, transparent test interpretation and measurable follow-up.
For help preparing your records, use the Clinical Visit Pack. If you need a clinician, the doctor and specialist directory explains how to check services and arrange an assessment.