Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder)

What is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a mental health disorder where the affected individuals

repeatedly pull out hair from any part of their body (e.g. scalp, eyebrow, eyelash)
and
are unable to stop themselves from doing so (uncontrollable)

The common obvious impact for the affected individuals is having patchy bald spots and significant hair loss, leading to distress from the negative change in their physical appearance. Trichotillomania can affect both men and women of all ages. The hair-pulling behaviours are often related and in response to stress from school, work, family or social aspects of the individual's life.

Difficulties in stopping the hair-pulling behaviours can result in irreversible hair loss, and likely to improve without adequate treatment. Affected individuals may also engage in other repeated and uncontrollable behaviours such as skin-picking and nail-biting.

Symptoms

Repeated pulling out of hair from any part of the body

Can be short and brief periods multiple times a day, or continuous for hours
Can be from one or more parts of the body

Hair loss in areas where hair is being pulled out
Difficulties in resisting the urge to pull out one's hair
The hair-pulling behaviour may come and go, lasting from a few weeks or months or years, and vary in severity and intensity each time
Brief moments of relief when pulling out hair
Feeling worried, upset or embarrassed by the hair loss
Struggles or takes great effort to cover up hair loss
Difficulties engaging in school, work, social and leisure activities due to hair loss

Treatment

If you experience more than one of the symptoms listed above, you are strongly encouraged to seek advice from a psychiatrist or mental healthcare professional.

Treatment for Trichotillomania includes:

Medications

Medications such as Tricycline anti-depressants and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors may be prescribed
To help with anxiety or the negative emotions that may underlie the through hair-pulling behavior

Psychotherapy

Learn and understand the emotional difficulties that may underlie the behaviour
Learn helpful and relevant skills and strategies to cope with emotional difficulties and manage urges to pull out hair

Social or family support

Engage in relevant resources or support programmes to deal with practical and stressful situations in daily lives
Caregivers and loved ones can learn how to support affected individuals

Other possible or related medical and mental health conditions can be considered and treated accordingly.

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What is Trichotillomania?

Symptoms

Treatment