Hair Pulling Disorder

Hair pulling disorder isn’t a common condition, but it can cause severe symptoms and affect the mental and physical health of the patient.

Hair pulling disorder

Hair pulling disorder is a mental health condition that causes the patient to compulsively pull out hair from their scalp, eyebrows, or any part of the body.

Trichotillomania can be automatic, which means that the patient pulls out the hair unconsciously, or it can be focused, which means that the patient pulls out the hair intentionally.

Causes and risk factors of hair pulling disorder

The reason behind hair pulling isn’t clear, but it results from a combination of factors, including:

• Genetics and family history.
• Tremendously stressful incidents.
• Having another mental health condition, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and anxiety.
• Having another uncomfortable skin or hair condition.
• Boring and isolated environment.

Symptoms of hair pulling disorder

• Pulling out the hair frequently from any part of the body.
• Pulling out a certain type of hair.
• Increased tension when trying to resist the desire of pulling out the hair.
• Feeling relieved after pulling out the hair.
• Biting, chewing, or eating the hair.
• Hair loss, like bald spots on the scalp or shortened hair.
• TTM can lead to problems in social life and work, feeling frustrated and ashamed, skin and hair damage that may be serious, and hairballs in the digestive system due to eating the hair.

Diagnosis of hair pulling disorder

• Physical exam.
• Psychological evaluation.

Treatment of hair pulling disorder

• Therapies, including habit reversal training, cognitive therapy, group therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
• Medicines.