“Hair Thinning” from “A habit of pulling out” A signal of a psychiatric disorder
In some cases, hair loss and thinning is not caused by heredity but behavioral disorder or physical or mental illness. We may notice that we ourselves or those around us have a habit of “repeatedly hair-pulling out” (compulsive hair pulling). Some people pull out their hair intentionally to relieve tension or distress but some pull out their hair without even realizing they're doing it, such as when they are enjoying doing things. Did you know that this habit of hair-pulling is a symptom of a psychiatric disorder known as “Trichotillomania” or “Hair-pulling disorder”?
“Trichotillomania” is a condition that gives some people strong urges to pull out their own hair repeatedly, both intentionally and unintentionally. It is classified as an obsessive-compulsive related disorder. In addition, it may be caused by other conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, chemical imbalances in the brain, scalp disease or even heredity.
Besides the hair, people with trichotillomania also pull hair out at the root from places like eyebrows, eyelashes, or even beard and mustache. Although this condition affects the personality and mental state, it hasn’t been well recognized in Thailand. Only few patients have seen a doctor to get a treatment.
To take a closer look at the symptoms of "Trichotillomania" or “Hair-pulling disorder”, it is categorized into two types:
Conscious (focused) hair pulling
The patient will concentrate and focus on pulling out their hair under different circumstances. Some people may have cumulative stress or anxiety. Some feel itchy and uncomfortable. Some may just see that the hair looks not smooth. When their hair are pulled out, they feel better, more relaxed, and relieved.
Unconscious (automatic) hair pulling
This type often occurs during doing or enjoying activities such as watching TV, reading books, or working, and then pulling out the hair unintentionally.
However, most cases are mixed hair-pulling behavior. The patients do not pulling out their hair continuously for a long period of time, but repeatedly and frequently do. Some patients may not admit to their condition.
Regarding the consequences of this hair-pulling behavior, the distinctive one is losing self-image, followed by anxiety, stress or depression. Worse than that, some patients may eat their own hair that adversely affects the intestinal function. Moreover, repeated hair-pulling out may cause deformed and unhealthy hair due to scalp inflammation, and lead to hair thinning or bald patches.
Patients with “trichotillomania” or “hair-pulling disorder” can either try themselves to change or seek medical treatment, depending on the severity of symptoms as follows:
- In the event that a patient is unaware of this disorder or have an unconscious (automatic) hair pulling behavior, what to do first is to make such patient accept his/her disorder. Then the control of their behavior can begins.
- Patients and those close to them should mutually observe and point out when and in which circumstance the hair-pulling behavior tend to occur, for instance, when bored, sad, or stressed, or during doing any activity. This helps us handle the patient behavior more precisely.
- Avoid scolding or complaining the patients because it may cause them more frequently pull out their hair. The best way is to use the proper warning methods.
Attempting to evoke the behavior change could heal some patients. However, some may need to go see a doctor for a specific symptom assessment or figuring out the mental disorders. The doctor may prescribe a medication as well. “Trichotillomania” or “hair-pulling disorder” should be treated as early as possible because the younger patient means the easier treatment to complete. One of the ways to restore your attractive appearance and recall your confidence is “hair transplantation” by a medical professional. Your pulled-out hair will be replaced naturally with the new dense and healthy hair. Then the patient with trichotillomania becomes ready for any other proper medical treatment.
