Autism

I've only ever found two real studies on topic of tactile processing issues. reading the descriptions of tactile defensiveness made me feel less crazy.

The neurological process of light touch and movement being miss communicated to include a fight or flight response. The stress to muscles and joints that goes with constantly supressing a low level fight or flight response.

I've found it helpful when explaining to people hoe it is for me at least. To ask them to describe their physical response to something like a jump scare, someone startles you from behind kinda thing. then i ask if lightly moving their own hand over their arm causes the same feeling at like 1/3 the intensisty. Sure they usually say something along "thats not real". But damnit i was at least able to explain the experiance.

these links shouldnt have paywalls. i can poke around for new links if they do.

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/37/27/6475

https://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1186%2F2040-2392-3-6

When I'm super tired, really over stimulated, have a migrane, or have far too little sleep my skin can be extremely sensitive. I just can't wear a shirt or move my hair. I can feel the temperature and soft breezes almost burn. It's not exactly like a burn but I lack the words to describe the sensation.

I already know that I have sensation issues though so I've never looked too hard into it, but at least you now know that other's get it too!

I wouldn't say I've had it to such a degree, but I do have a sensitivity to touch (well, every sense). I don't have a problem if I am touching the thing (I am initiating the touch), but if the thing touches me (I am the recipient of the touch) I get this growing impulse to get away from it to the point of getting shaky. In some extreme cases it will feel like my skin is on fire even though there is no rash.

I do not know if your severity is common but I can easily see it being a thing.

I dont get pain from touch, i do get sever frustration and irritability from gentle touches

It's progressive for me, sweat feel uncomfortable then irritating, tiring, and finally painful/burning. But it also depend of my mindset, I'm a lot less tolerant at home where I should rest.

When I'm overstimulated or migrainey my skin becomes sensitive to touch. So that when I am touched I have a burning sensation and oddly enough light touches are more painful than a normal touch. I often describe it as the same feeling from when I am running a fever that makes my skin burn and I get painful goosebumps all over. (The painful goosebumps happen with a migraine more than being overstimulated.)

Also I can't stand repetitive touch, like when holding hands and the other person rubs their thumb back and forth over your hand. These repetitive motions quickly become painful and can often set off my whole body becoming too sensitive. Another weird touch thing is light touches on my back, this almost always causes my how body to start itching. It's sooo annoying and something I have to constantly remind my partner about.

Yeah that sounds about right unfortunately. And fibro is a diagnoses of exclusion but there are specific body parts that are more sensitive and that’s pretty easy to test for. The doctor basically pokes you and sees if you flinch in pain or not lol.

I have fibromyalgia along with audhd and this actually sounds a lot like my experience. You should look into that maybe!