Trichotillomania is a psychological condition in which sufferers experience hair lose due to compulsive twisting or pulling of the hair until it breaks off or is removed from the scalp. Roughly 4% of the population suffers from trichotillomania. Women are nearly four times more likely to suffer from it than men.
Typically early symptoms of the condition can be seen in children under the age of 17, but the disease can present itself at any time during a person's lifetime. When young children experience the hair pulling compulsion they typically outgrow the behavior. In many cases trichotillomania can resolve itself within 12 months, but sometimes the behavior continues for longer periods of time.
The exact cause of trichotillomania is unknown. Often the hair pulling compulsion seems to develop as a coping mechanism for managing high levels of stress. It can also be triggered by symptoms of depression.
Symptoms and Complications
There are several complications that can arise as a result of trichotillomania. Symptoms that are typically present in sufferers can include:
Bald spots. These spots may be present on the head, eyebrows, eye lashes, or any place where there is normally hair present on the body. Sufferers frequently have patches where the hair is shorter than the rest, or spots where there is no hair at all. This will result in an overall uneven appearance.
Several complications can often occur. Many sufferers ingest the hair they pull out. This can lead to bowel obstruction.
Eventually after prolonged hair pulling, hair follicles may be destroyed making it difficult or impossible to re-grow hair.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur due to the repetitive motions of hair pulling.
Trichotillomania can lead to emotional distress and problems with social anxiety. People who suffer from trichotillomania often fear the attention they may receive due to their behavior, so they fear social situations.
Other self injury habits may also occur.
Treatment
Though experts have not agreed upon one specific method of treatment, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and naltrexone have proven to be effecting in reducing some of the symptoms.
Habit Reversal Training and behavioral therapy have also proven effective for stopping the occurrence of hair pulling.
In order to cope with the bald spots that can appear as a side effect of trichotillomania, many people search for ways to hide the spots. Women often wear fake eyelashes, use eyebrow pencils, wear wigs or get hair extensions in an effort to hide bald spots or areas on the head where the hair is different lengths.
Therapy and medications can help sufferers learn to cope with compulsions and eliminate the hair pulling behavior. There are also multiple ways of dealing with the bald patches and uneven hair length. Hair extensions are one way of replacing broken hair strands in a way that looks natural and can work to restore the confidence of trichotillomania sufferers.
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