TRICHOTILLOMANIA

TYPES

For people with trichotillomania, hair pulling can be:

• Individuals may pull hair just to relieve stress or anxiety
• Individuals may pull their hair without even knowing that they’re doing it, like when they are resting or sitting before the TV.

Trichotillomania can be related to emotions:

• Negative emotions. For certain people with trichotillomania, hair pulling is a way for them to deal with negative symptoms such as stress, depression, or frustration.
• Positive emotions. Some people pull their hair when they are excited or when they want to feel positive emotions.

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of trichotillomania usually include:

• Repeatedly pulling your hair out, usually from your scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, and even at times from other body regions
• Increased tension before pulling, or when you attempt to restrict pulling
• A feeling of happiness or accomplishment after the hair is pulled
• Hair loss that is distinctive, and missing hairs from eyebrows

DIAGNOSIS

In case you can’t stop pulling out your hair or you feel affected or humiliated by your appearance as a result of your hair pulling, talk with your doctor. Trichotillomania isn’t just a usual habit, it’s a mental health issue, and it’s presumably not going to improve without treatment.

TREATMENT

Trichotillomania is a chronic or long-term problem. Without treatment, symptoms can get more severe after some time. For example, the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle can worsen symptoms in women. For some people, if not treated, symptoms can return and last for a long time.