Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is hair loss from compulsive pulling or twisting of the hair until it breaks off.

• it is a compulsive behaviour
• may affect 4% of the population, and women are four times as likely to be affected than men
• symptoms usually begin before age 17
• the hair may come out in round patches or across the scalp
• the person may pluck other hairy areas, such as the eyebrows, eyelashes, or body hair.

These symptoms are usually seen in children:

• An uneven appearance to the hair

• Bare patches or all around (diffuse) loss of hair

• Bowel blockage (obstruction) if people eat the hair they pull out

• Constant tugging, pulling, or twisting of hair

• Denying the hair pulling

• Hair regrowth that feels like stubble in the bare spots

• Increasing sense of tension before the hair pulling

• Other self-injury behaviors

• Sense of relief, pleasure, or gratification after the hair pulling

Psychological treatment can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and psychotropic medications. Young children tend to outgrow the behaviour.