HAIR-PULLING SYNDROME

Overview & Facts

Hair-pulling syndrome, otherwise known as trichotillomania, is a psychological abnormality that involves an intermittent, powerful desire to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or different areas of your body, even though you are trying to stop.

Hair pulling from the scalp frequently leaves inconsistent bare spots, which causes hair problems and can affect self confidence and social interactions.

For some individuals, trichotillomania might be mild and manageable, while for others, the impulsive pulling is overpowering. Some treatment choices have helped numerous individuals diminish their hair-pulling completely.

Types & Symptoms

TYPES

  • FocusedType Hair Pulling is a behavior manifested by individuals who pull their hair to temporarily to release pressure or
  • AutomaticHair Pulling is an act of pulling  hair without acknowledging that you are doing it, for example, when you’re exhausted, reading or watching TV.

Trichotillomania can be identified with feelings:

  • Contrary emotions
  • Positive emotions

 

SYMPTOMS

Hair-pulling syndrome may have the following signs and symptoms:

  • Repeatedly pulling your hair out
  • A feeling or urge before pulling, or when you attempt to oppose pulling
  • A feeling of joy or temporary relief after the hair is pulled
  • Noticeable male pattern baldness
  • Biting,  or eating pulled out hair
  • Playing with pulled hair or rubbing it over your lips or face

Diagnosis & Medications

An assessment to decide whether you have trichotillomania may include the following:

  • Looking at how much pulled hair you have
  • Making inquiries and examining your pulled-out hair with you
  • Taking out other possible reasons for hair pulling or male pattern baldness through testing that is done by your doctor
  • Distinguishing any physical or psychological wellness issues that might be related with hair pulling
  • Utilizing the diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

 

TREATMENT

Research on the treatment of trichotillomania is limited, but there are some treatment alternatives such as psychological therapy that has helped numerous individuals decrease their hair-pulling or stop it completely.

The types of treatment that might be useful for trichotillomania may include the following:

  • Habit reversal training: This behavior treatment is the essential treatment for trichotillomania. You figure out how to perceive circumstances where you’re going to pull your hair and how to find alternative practices.
  • Cognitive therapy: This treatment can enable you to recognize and look at twisted beliefs you may have in connection to hair pulling.
  • Acceptance therapy: A kind of treatment that enables you to figure out how to acknowledge your hair-pulling desires without following them.

 

  • Drugs: Generally no medications are endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of trichotillomania, but a few prescriptions may help control certain indications, like anti-depressants.

Related Articles

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that affects the [...]

TRICHINOSIS

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by [...]

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition characterized by severe facial pain. [...]