Trichotillomania… A Hair Pulling Disorder

Trichotillomania is a repetitive behavior presented with an impulse control disorder which involves pulling out one's own hair. Hair is pulled from any region of the body in which hair grows but the most common sites are the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelids. Trichotillomania is found more in females than males. This disorder comes and goes in phases for weeks, months or years. If the person suffering from trichotillomania is left untreated the impulse would keep coming and going in phases but would never be cured in their lifetime.

What are the possible triggering factors for Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is most commonly found in pre-adolescents to young adult age group. The triggering of this disorder may be preceded due to various emotional states, such as feelings of anxiety or boredom or a stressful event such as conflict in the family, abuse or death may trigger cause of trichotillomania. 

Symptoms of Trichotillomania

Individual who suffer of Trichotillomania repeatedly pull their own hair from scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes. There is a strong urge to pull hair this gives relief or comfort from anxiety or stress. There is a patchy bald area on the scalp or other areas of the body. There could be thin or missing eyelashes or eyebrows. Individuals would also chew or eat the pulled out hair or play with pulled hair. Hair loss is stopped once the hair pulling obsession is controlled and treated.

Individuals might also visually examine or feel their hair strand or orally manipulate the hair after it has been pulled, for example they may roll the hair between the fingers or would bite the hair strand into pieces, or even swallow the pulled out hair.

Co-existing illness with Trichotillomania

Depression is frequently found in individuals suffering from trichotillomania. It sometimes co-exists with skin picking disorder. Other repetitive behaviors, such as nail biting, thumb sucking, head banging, or compulsive scratching are also common found co-existing with trichotillomania.

Homoeopathic Treatment for Trichotillomania

1. Homoeopathic treatment is the best for Trichotillomania.
2. Trichotillomania is far from a cosmetic malady.
3. It is a defense against personal frustration, stress or depression. It is as much a mind disorder as it is of the body.
4. Homoeopathy with its mind-body and holistic approach is ideally positions to help the patient deal with this disorder.
5. Homoeopathy provides a safe and enduring resolution from the illness.
6. Homeopathic trichotillomania treatment not only treats the apparent symptoms but also goes to the root cause of the problem, restoring the individual back to optimal health.
7. Cutting hair short would make pulling extremely difficult is an interim quick-fix.
8. Counseling along with emotional and family support is imperative.