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Some people with trichotillomania have rituals or routines related to hairpulling, like choosing which hair to pull or smelling, looking at, playing with, or eating hair you pull out. Many people also enjoy the sensory experience of the rituals they develop around hairpulling. This can involve any of the senses, such as the sound of pulling out a hair or rubbing it against your hand, the feeling or taste of hair in your mouth, or other sensations. This creates a cycle in your brain where you think about the habit and feel the urge to do it. When you do, your brain releases “reward” chemicals like dopamine, which makes you feel happy and calm. Your body then connects doing the habit with feeling good, which in turn strengthens the habit and makes the urge to do it more intense.
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Trichotillomania appears to be equally prevalent among males and females during adolescence. However, adult females are more likely to report the condition than males. Some research shows that there may be a genetic component to trichotillomania, but evidence at this point is limited.
Literally Pulling Out Your Hair? Trichotillomania May Be to Blame
When individuals are treated with the ComB model, they feel empowered. There is no question, HRT has been a modality of choice and it will always be an option. The good news is that the ComB model provides an alternative to have a greater chance for optimal success in treating TTM and other BFRBs. This article outlines the symptoms and causes of trichotillomania, as well as the different treatment options available. Treatment may also involve keeping track of hairpulling in a journal and identifying your triggers, which might occur when watching TV or lying in bed. Also, 83% of participants reported anxiety, and 70% reported depression due to pulling.
What Causes Trichotillomania?
Unfortunately, the repeated action of pulling out one's own hair can create further problems. Not surprisingly, a bald area can develop where the plucking occurs. Inflammation, infection, skin damage and permanent hair loss can also result from compulsive hair pulling. This hair pulling disorder can start small, but eventually blooms into a life altering hair pulling disease. People with trich feel an intense urge to pull their hair out and they experience growing tension until they do. Hair pulling disorder, also called trichotillomania, is a psychological disorder, characterized by recurrent urges to remove hair from the body.
How does this condition affect my body?
We’re still not sure what causes trichotillomania, but there are a few working hypotheses. Some researchers believe that hair pulling is a coping behavior, while others think it may be a subconscious response to a perceived threat. Other researchers hypothesize that differences in brain structure may make certain people susceptible to trichotillomania. If you or a loved one has a hairpulling habit, consider reaching out to a trusted healthcare professional to discuss your treatment options.
Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)
Once triggers and behaviors are recognized, habits are then replaced with less harmful behaviors, such as fist clenching. Throughout HRT, support from professionals and family members is crucial to help prompt habit changes and reinforce positive behaviors through praise [1][3]. Despite certain similarities, trichotillomania and OCD are different conditions [1]. The ComB model is an excellent choice because it’s not only comprehensive, but it’s also client-friendly.
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Trichotillomania is a rare medical disorder that can greatly affect a person’s quality of life. However, limited research suggests that specific behavioral therapies and medications may be beneficial for people with the condition. Adults with trichotillomania often also experience other psychological conditions, while children with trichotillomania usually do not. Nearly one-third of adults with trichotillomania report a low or very low quality of life. You may have the urge to pull based on how your hair or scalp feels.
When differentiating trichotillomania from OCD, providers will screen for repetitive hair pulling and other repetitive habits, as well as evaluate a person for symptoms that are specific to OCD. A mental health professional can diagnose trichotillomania based on a clinical evaluation, a person's health history, and testing to rule out other causes of hair loss. The average age of onset for trichotillomania is often between 10 and 13 years old, but it can start younger.
How common is trichotillomania?
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Once it starts, hair-pulling disorder has the potential to be lifelong. People who are prone to stress or have high levels of stress in their lives are at a higher risk of developing trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is one of several body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) currently classified in the DSM-5 as Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders. The disorder is also thought to share characteristics with impulse-control disorders. Trichotillomania affects up to 2 percent of the population, though only about half of those are thought to receive some form of treatment. TTM is a relatively straightforward condition to diagnose, but people with this condition often hide it out of shame or embarrassment.
When his friends called him to hang out, he found excuses not to be around them. The embarrassment and shame were causing isolation, and his confidence and self esteem were suffering. If a trichobezoar obstructs a person’s bowel, they may need surgery to remove it.
Doctors typically prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, for treating trichotillomania. If you are trying to get your eyebrows to grow back, some doctors recommend taking vitamins like iron, omega-3 supplements, biotin, and a multivitamin. Always check with your doctor about any vitamins or supplements you want to take. Your doctor might give you certain medications or creams to help eyebrow hair grow back. In some severe cases where eyebrows don't grow back, they might suggest getting permanent eyebrow tattoos or hair transplants.
Doctors aren't sure exactly how common trichotillomania is because many people who have it don't tell their doctors. Scientists think 3.5% of all people experience hairpulling at some point in their life, and it might be higher. Trichotillomania (TTM) is sometimes related to certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
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