In today’s fast moving world some kids are unable to cope up with the stress and competition, some develop anxiety and can lead to impulsive behaviour like trichotillomania which is a habit of pulling hair. How to manage it? What are the precautions to be taken? What are the signs and symptoms? What is the cause of this disease? How to treat it? How can homeopathy help you? All of this answered, in this post and of course our doctors always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form down below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is a disorder which exhibits obsessive and compulsive behaviour of pulling hairs .
Common areas for hair to be pulled out are the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, arms, hands, and pubic hairs. Some rare areas include the pubic area, underarms, beard, and chest.
It is a disorder which leads to impulsive behaviour by DSM-IV, is the compulsive urge to pull out one’s own hair leading to noticeable hair loss, distress, and social or functional impairment.
Who are more prone to get affected Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania usually affected teenagers.
Women are more prone than men.
What are the causes of Trichotillomania?
• Trichotillomania is a disorder which exhibits impulsive control loss. The causes are not clearly understood.
• Environmental factors affects people suffering from this condition.
• Sedentary activities such as being in a relaxed environment can aggravate over thinking which are conducive to hair pulling.
• Patients suffering from Anxiety , depression and OCD ( obsessive compulsive disorder ) can be affected.
• Hair puling in children can be due to sheer boredom.
• Various other underlying skin conditions such as ringworm etc can also lead to scratching and pulling of hairs.
• Disturbance in the natural brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine may trigger in trichotillomania.
• Other activities of coping up mechanisms are Nail biting and skin picking , they have also been associated with trichotillomania.
What are the symptoms and signs of Trichotillomania?
• People suffering from trichotillomania often pull only one hair at a time and these hair pull episodes can last for hours at a time.
• Symptoms usually begin in teenagers. The person may pluck areas such as the eyebrows, eyelashes, scalp or body hair.
• Bare patches (singular or multiple)or all around (diffuse) loss of hair can be observed.
• Constant tugging, pulling, or twisting of hair
• Patient feels intense tension before the hair pulling
• Other self-injury behaviors
• People have reported Sense of relief, pleasure, or gratification after the hair pulling who are suffering from this condition.
• Playing with pulled out hair
• Hair pulling is a coping up mechanism from negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, anxiety.
What are the investigations to diagnose trichotillomania?
Physical examination of hair, scalp and skin
What are the treatment suggested for Trichotillomania?
• Medications such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown effective in reducing some symptoms other are – clomipramine( tricyclic antidepressant ) , Fluoxetin (Prozac ) .
• An examination by a Physician is necessary to rule out conditions like ringworm and other dermatological issues.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps the child to stop this behavior of pulling their own hairs.
• Medical therapy may be required to reduce anxiety and stress needed in few adolescent and teenagers.
What is he prognosis of Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania that begins at a younger age may go away without treatment.
What are the complications of Trichotillomania?
• Emotional distress- Patients report feeling shame, humiliation and embarrassment and may experience low self-esteem.
• Patient avoid swimming, haircuts and windy weather. People with trichotillomania may wear artificial hair wigs, style their hair to disguise bald patches or wear false eyelashes.
• Hairballs – Eating your own hair may lead to a large, matted hairball (trichobezoar) in your digestive tract.
What Homeopathy medicines are commonly indicated in cases of Trichotillomania?
The commonly indicated medicines in such cases are as follows: –
• Belladonna
• Chamomilla
• Arsenic Album
• Argentum Nit
• Phosphorous.
For more information, you can visit MentalHealthAmerica and NHS.
