Why Do People Eat Their Hair?

Chewing on the ends of your hair while deep in thought is a relatively common habit. People with trichophagia takes things further; they're compelled to regularly consume hair. This compulsion can lead to potentially serious health complications.

Identification

• Trichophagia is often linked to another disorder, trichotillomania, which compels people to pull hair from their own body. Anxiety and depression frequently accompany these disorders and sufferers of trichotillomania and/or trichophagia may often be seen playing with their own hair or worrying over bald spots.

Theories/Speculation

• While the exact causes of trichophagia and related conditions are not known, it's more than just a nervous habit. It's suspected that these disorders are neurologically based.

Effects

• On its own, trichophagia may not have many outward signs. Trichotillomania, however, can result in visible bald patches on the head, eyebrows, eyelashes and other areas.

Warning

• Regularly eating hair can result in a build up of hair in the digestive system. Known as a trichobezoar, this hairball can be damaging--even life threatening- and requires treatment through medication or surgery.

Treatment

• Multiple approaches are used for trichophagia and trichotillomania treatments. Cognitive therapy and medication are common treatments, but support groups and alternative treatments (such as hypnosis) have also proved helpful for some people.