Compulsive hair pulling, known as Trichotillomania, is among the most common mental health disorders that many people may not be familiar with. In 1889 Dr. François Henri Hallopeau, a French dermatologist, created the name Trichotillomania.
The name derived from the Greek trich- “hair” and tillein “to pull,” as well as the suffix -mania “madness.” Severe cases can result in permanent hair loss and skin damage due to repetitive pulling of the scalp, eyebrow, and eyelid areas.
Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) is a general term for a group of obsessive-compulsive related disorders. Along with Trichotillomania (hair-pulling) is Dermatillomani (skin-picking) and Onychophagia (nail-biting). Approximately 1 in 20 Americans are affected by one of these disorders. People with such disorders have reported significant impairment in social and occupational functioning and may experience legal and financial difficulties in life. Impulse control disorders have been associated with pyromania, kleptomania, and pathological gambling. If not dealt with, or at least be made aware of, BFRB can impact a person’s physical and mental health.
Trichotillomania occurs about ten times more frequently in females than males. Frequent Trichotillomania habits begin in the adolescent years. The repetitive pulling of hair often happens without any awareness and could be caused by anxiety and stress. Trichotillomania can coexist with an anxiety disorder, although psychiatrists label it as a separate illness apart from anxiety. People with Trichotillomania feel a sense of relief after pulling out hair and are unable to stop despite many attempts to do so. People who suffer from Trichotillomania often pull only one hair follicle at a time, causing episodes to last up to several hours. Excessive hair pulling will eventually lead to skin damage causing hair cells to no longer reproduce in the damaged areas leaving bald patches on the head.
What Can Be Done to Help
Because Trichotillomania is a mental health disorder, it is imperative to not only be aware of the constant pulling, but to try and take steps to control the issue. Treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, the medication clomipramine, and the supplement, N Acetyl Cysteine, have helped those experiencing Trichotillomania.
