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Hair Products for Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a disorder explained by the Mayo Clinic to be an irresistible desire to pull hair out from the body including the scalp, face and other areas. Trichotillomaniacs are noticeable by bald spots, sparse eyelashes, missing eyebrows and strange behaviors like chewing, eating and playing with pulled out hair. They have also been seen rubbing pulled out hair across their face and lips. Mental health professionals usually treat trichotillomania patients with anti-depressants and cognitive behavioral therapy.

  1. Wigs

    • Trichotillomania sufferers have difficulty replacing hair on the scalp because their disease may even cause them to pull on hair extensions that are attached to remaining hair. They may get hair implants, but pulling on implants may cause scalp irritation and even skin tearing. If they are able to control their compulsion in public, trichotillomaniacs may supplement their hair loss by wearing wigs. Almost any wig shop has wig caps to purchase. A person who suffers from this disease should try on different styles to see which suits the shape of her face and skin tone.

    False Eyelashes

    • The compulsion to pull hair out is not confined strictly to the top of the head. Facial hair, like eyelashes, are thin and easily removed with light pulling. Eyelashes protect the eyes from debris and are often enhanced cosmetically with mascara for beautification. False eyelashes and their accompanying glue may be purchased in almost any drug, department or beauty supply store. Once applied properly, they can be almost indistinguishable from real eyelashes and offer a viable hair product option for trichotillomania sufferers.

    Eyebrow Hair Replacements

    • In addition to eyelashes, eyebrow hair may be another source of anguish for trichotillomaniacs. Eyebrow hair is usually dense and short and can make for hours of plucking. The result, however, can can leave a person's face noticeably disfigured, drawing attention to the eyes and making the forehead appear longer. To counteract the appearance of bald eyebrows, patients may purchase eyebrow hair replacements. These can get expensive, however. A cheaper option is to purchase eyebrow stencils, place them over the brow and use brown or black eyebrow pencils to draw fine lines to create the appearance of eyebrow hair.

    Hair Tattoos

    • Permanent and semi-permanent tattoos may be sought from tattoo artists and salon technicians to have color embedded into the skin to create looks that simulate fixtures of hair. This is especially useful for the eyebrows. Eyeliner may also be tattooed onto the lid of the eye which can disguise the loss of eyelashes on the bottom lid.

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