Trichotillomania (hair pulling)

What is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a condition that leads to an overwhelming urge to pull out hair. There are several different forms of Trichotillomania:

Focused hair pulling, when someone pulls out hair intentionally. This type of Trichotillomania can include specific rituals, including pulling certain types of hair.
Automatic hair pulling, when people pull hair without being fully conscious of what they are doing.
Mixed hair pulling, which combines aspects of both types.

Trichotillomania is more common in teenagers and young adults and tends to affect girls more often than boys.

Symptoms of Trichotillomania

Pulling out scalp hair often leaves patchy bald spots, often more on one side of the head than the other, which can cause significant distress and interfere with social life or work. For some people, trichotillomania may be mild and usually manageable.

Most people with Trichotillomania pull out hair from their scalp, but some pull out hair from other areas, including:

eyebrows
eyelashes
pubic hair
beard or moustache

Causes of Trichotillomania

The cause of Trichotillomania is unclear, however there are several known risk factors:

Trichotillomania may have a genetic component and can occur in those who have a close relative with the condition
Trichotillomania most commonly develops just before or during the early teens, most often between the ages of 10 and 13 years and developing into a chronic problem.
People who have Trichotillomania sometimes also have other conditions, such as depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Stressful situations or events may cause Trichotillomania in some people.

Can Trichotillomania be harmful?

Constant hair pulling can cause scarring and other damage, including infections, to the skin on the scalp or the area where hair is pulled out. In some cases, this can permanently affect hair growth.

Occasionally people with Trichotillomania eat their hair. This can lead to hairballs, which can lead to serious illness, so it is important to visit a Doctor if you are eating your hair.

Treatments for Trichotillomania

The most common treatments for Trichotillomania are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Further research is needed but behavioural therapy shows better outcomes than medication in most cases.

Additional Information

Anxiety UK have some useful information about Trichotillomania

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ANXIETY UK WEBSITE

Trichotillomania Support has an excellent online forum where you can get advice and support from other people affected by the condition. They also have lots of information on treatments and self-help advice.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE TRICHOTILLOMANIA SUPPORT WEBSITE

Latest

Izzy’s fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I have been following this charity through my own alopecia journey. I think what they do is truly remarkable and I would love to be a part of that however small
Mollys Skydive For Alopecia UK

I am fundraising for Alopecia UK because its a charity close to my heart. When I was 15/16 I started losing my hair and I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. I was lucky enough to receive medication which allowed my hair to grow back however, not everyone is this lucky. Therefore, I am doing this skydive to raise money so that the charity can help more people living with alopecia.
What 'Marathon Month' Means to Alopecia UK

April is the start of the marathon season. In this blog, we explain what that means to us and encourage our community to look beyond London..
Rory Green's fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I am raising money for Alopecia UK, a Charity close to my heart, after losing my Step Sister Alicia Pylypczuk in 2020.

Traction Alopecia (hair loss)

Traction Alopecia is when hair falls out because it has been pulled in the same way for a long time. This condition is often caused by tight hairstyles, relaxers or extensions.
Telogen Effluvium

With Telogen Effluvium more hairs than usual move into the telogen (resting) phase and shed, so you may notice more hair falling out than usual. Telogen Effluvium is often caused by a physical or psychological trigger and often resolves itself spontaneously.
Lichen Planopilaris (Scarring Alopecia)

Primary Scarring Alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias or scarring hair loss) are a group of conditions that destroy the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In Lichen Planopilaris, patches of scalp appear, most commonly on the sides, front and lower back of the scalp.
Chemotherapy Induced Alopecia (Anagen Effluvium)

Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia (CIA) is when the hair falls out following chemotherapy. It is one of the most visibly distressing side effects of commonly administered chemotherapeutic drugs.
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (Scarring Alopecia)

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) is a type of Scarring Alopecia, where the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue. In Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, hair falls out across the front of the scalp. Hair loss can also affect the eyebrows.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (Scarring Alopecia)

Primary scarring alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias or scarring hair loss) are a group of conditions that destroy the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia, hair loss starts in the centre of the scalp and slowly spreads outwards.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Hair Loss)

Male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. Hairs falls out in a well-defined pattern in men, whereas in women, the hair usually becomes thinner all over the head rather than receding from the temples.
Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out, usually in usually in round or oval patches on the scalp or other places on the body that grow hair, such as the beard, eyebrows or eyelashes. Types of Alopecia Areata include Patchy Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis, Alopecia Barbae, Diffuse Alopecia Areata and Alopecia Ophiasis.

Common Treatments for Alopecia Areata

Information about common treatments for Alopecia Areata
Alopecia and Covid-19 (New Coronavirus)

A statement from Alopecia UK regarding COVID-19 and vaccines.
Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out, usually in usually in round or oval patches on the scalp or other places on the body that grow hair, such as the beard, eyebrows or eyelashes. Types of Alopecia Areata include Patchy Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis, Alopecia Barbae, Diffuse Alopecia Areata and Alopecia Ophiasis.
Responding to the events from the 2022 Oscars

We respond to the events from the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony and the actions of Will Smith
A Guide to Wigs

Links to our downloaded PDF wig guide, and information on the NHS England wig report.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Hair Loss)

Male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. Hairs falls out in a well-defined pattern in men, whereas in women, the hair usually becomes thinner all over the head rather than receding from the temples.
Lichen Planopilaris (Scarring Alopecia)

Primary Scarring Alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias or scarring hair loss) are a group of conditions that destroy the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In Lichen Planopilaris, patches of scalp appear, most commonly on the sides, front and lower back of the scalp.
Can I dye my hair when I have alopecia?
Telogen Effluvium

With Telogen Effluvium more hairs than usual move into the telogen (resting) phase and shed, so you may notice more hair falling out than usual. Telogen Effluvium is often caused by a physical or psychological trigger and often resolves itself spontaneously.
Hair Loss After Illness, including Covid-19

We asked Alopecia UK Research Committee member Professor Andrew Messenger to answer some questions about hair loss after illness.