Hair Pulling Diseases

Trichotillomania is the name of the disease where a person pulls or twists her hair until it breaks. The causes of the disease are not understood.

Occurance

• Trichotillomania affects about 4 percent of the population and affects more women than men, according to the National Institutes of Health. Four times as many women than men are affected by trichotillomania.

Scope

• People afflicted with trichotillomania may pull out more than just their head hair. They may also pluck or pull out eyelashes, eyebrows or other body hair.

Age of affliction

• Those who are afflicted at a younger age (before age 5, typically) have a better chance of recovery than those afflicted at older ages. In most cases the symptoms do begin before the age of 17.

Complications

• In some cases, persons with trichotillomania will eat their hair, causing further complications. When someone with trichotillomania eats her hair, the disease is known as trichophagia.

Treatment

• Treatment can take the form of medication or behavioral therapy. The medication typically prescribed are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or naltrexone.

Identification

• The disease can often be identified by noticing patchy or uneven hair, observing pulling on the hair and other self-injury behaviors.