https://thecehf.org/Help change Morgellons Disease from a mystery to reality.
The Charles E. Holman Foundation is a grassroots activist organization that supports research, education, diagnosis and treatment of Morgellons Disease. Ultimately, we seek discovery of its cause and cure.
Morgellons Disease is a multi-system condition characterized by novel skin manifestations and insidious neurological and other systemic symptoms.
The distinguishing characteristic of Morgellons is the presence of microscopic subcutaneous fibers. Lighted microscopy (60x) enables the visualization of these unusual fibers, often colored red, blue, white or clear, embedded in open skin lesions as well as their presence beneath completely intact skin. The exact composition of these fibers remains a mystery.

Case definition as submitted to the CDC, February 14, 2006

“… Morgellons Disease is a multi-symptom disease that is just now starting to be researched and understood. Morgellons has a real physical pathology despite of the fact that the exact cause is not known.”
RANDY S. WYMORE, PhD

“… Morgellons Disease is an emerging multisystem illness characterized by the presence of filamentous fibers of undetermined composition, both in lesions and subdermal. The etiology of Morgellons disease is unknown.”
MARIANNE J. MIDDELVEEN, MDes
& RAPHAEL B. STRICKER, MD

“… Morgellons patients looked ill with neurological symptoms, which included confusion, difficulty walking and controlling their feet (foot drop), and a sagging mouth when speaking…”
RHONDA CASEY, DO

“… disease of unknown pathology characterized by sensations of crawling, biting and stinging, disfiguring lesions and unusual fibers coming out of the skin, usually, quickly dismissed by physicians as DOP (Delusions of Parasitosis)…”
GINGER SAVELY, DNP

What is Morgellons?
Morgellons Disease (MD) is a multi-system illness uniquely characterized by the formation of unusual fibers within the skin. MD is a debilitating, painful, and life-impacting condition consisting of slow-healing skin lesions, overwhelming fatigue, GI disturbances, and an array of neurological deficits. Patients with Morgellons may shed unusual appearing particles from the skin described as fibers, sand or seed-like, black specks, or crystallized particles.

The distinguishing characteristic of Morgellons Disease (MD) is the presence of microscopic subcutaneous fibers sometimes referred to as filaments within the skin. Lighted microscopy (60-x minimum) enables the visualization of these unusual fibers, often-colored red, blue, black, white, or clear, embedded in open skin lesions as well as their presence beneath intact skin.

Patients and physicians often misinterpret Morgellons symptoms as being parasitic in origin but researchers concur that no parasites are involved with the etiology of Morgellons. It has also been determined that there are no fungal components to the etiology of Morgellons.

Borrelia, a spirochetal bacterium, has been detected in all Morgellons study subjects so far. Borrelia is detected by multiple methods in abundance within Morgellons skin lesions including culture. Other bacteria commonly found in some but not all Morgellons skin lesions include H. pylori, Bartonella, and Treponema denticola.

Research has determined that the filaments and shed materials are products of epithelial cells and are composed of collagen and keratin. Filaments can often be visualized stemming directly from cells and a retained nucleus can often be visualized at the base of the filament. The coloring of the filaments is not well understood but research has shown that the blue filaments contain granules of melanin.

Signs & Symptoms Include
Intense itching*
Crawling sensations under the skin
Spontaneously–appearing, slow-healing lesions*
Seed-like objects/ granules and black specks on/in skin
“Fuzz balls” on/in intact skin
Fine, thread like-colored fibers beneath and/or extruding from the skin
Life-altering fatigue
Neurological impairment
Visual and hearing changes
Brain fog and diminished higher cognitive abilities
Hair loss
GI changes
Muscle aches and joint pain
General malaise; intense, life-impacting pain
Dental deterioration
Sleep disturbances
Psychiatric manifestations can include anxiety, depression, new onset of panic attacks, changes in behavior and personality. Some patients who have been diagnosed with OCD, bipolar disorder, and even delusional disorders can result if left untreated.
*It is important to note that some patients have no lesions, but do have visible fibers within or protruding from unbroken skin when seen with a lighted, handheld microscope at 60x – 100x. Some patients do not experience intense itching.

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