Hair Pulling & Treatment

Trichotillomania, or compulsive hair pulling, is the urge to pull out your own hair. This includes eyelashes, brows, and anywhere else you find body hair, including the hair on your head. While plucking is usually done by hand it is not uncommon for people use tweezers or brushes to remove hair.

Causes

• More and more trichotillomania appears like a impulse control disorder. It could be seen as habit or addiction. It appears like obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it may be more like nail biting. The condition may be reclassified as "body-focused repetitive behaviors".

  Trichotillomania may be caused by genes. There are genetic links to hair pulling and Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is responsible for making uncontrolled movements and sounds. Irregular movements and hair pulling may be a result of unusual serotonin and dopamine chemicals

Children

• Trichotillomania usually appears at about age 12 although it can appear as young as one. An one-year-old might tear at his hair at bedtime and nighttime. Some teens have trouble with their homework. The challenge of projects or tests can be crippling - they can also lead to hair pulling as people with trichotillomania have difficulties staying one place at a time.

Living Well

• Hair pulling can be a may of dealing with stress or anxiety. Many other negative emotions contribute to trichotillomania. This might be so because some people receive positive reinforcement. It feels good to brush your face with pulled hair, or get a sense of satisfaction by pulling their hair. The positive feelings provide a sense of well-being and control.

  Hair pulling can greatly effect someone's life, or not. People who manage the situation are aware of the activities that lead to hair pulling, such as any activity that keeps your hands idle. Wearing gloves or occupying yourself with activities, such as knitting can be effective. Short, well taken care of hair can prevent hair pulling. Ask close friends or family, to point how when you are pulling your hair.

Side Effects

• When not managed effectively, low-self esteem, depression and anxiety can be side effects. Hair pulling may make your hair grow abnormally. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a risk. If someone eats the hair they might develop trichobezoar, or a hair ball. This leads to all sorts of problems, such as weight loss, vomiting, intestinal obstruction and even death. Suicide is sometimes explored. For those who have difficulty doing so might avoid situations where their hair loss is apparent. They don't swim, cut their hair or go out in the wind. Wigs or false eyelashes might be worn to hide the fact they have little hair.

Doctors

• If what appears to be trichotillomania gets out of control, it might be a good time to talk to a doctor.Ask what probably caused the illness. Find out what therapies are available. Medications can often contribute to healing, but be sure to ask about the side effects. Lastly, ask how much improvement you can expect to see. Your doctor might refer you to a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist will be more in-depth in his evaluation asking questions about why you pull your hair and about your state of mind.