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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of trichotillomania include:
- Patchy bald areas on the scalp or other areas of your body
- Sparse or missing eyelashes or eyebrows
- Chewing or eating pulled-out hair
- Playing with pulled-out hair
- Rubbing pulled-out hair across your lips or face
Most people with trichotillomania pull hair from their scalp, especially the crown. This can lead to what's known as a Friar Tuck sign — a balding pate surrounded by a fringe of hair. Eyebrows and eyelashes may also be pulled, as well as hair from the legs, arms, pubic area and other parts of the body. Most people pull hair with their fingers, but sometimes tools are used, such as tweezers, brushes and combs.
For some people, hair pulling is intentional and focused. They're aware that they're pulling their hair out and may even develop elaborate rituals for doing so. Other people pull their hair unconsciously.
- Woods DW, et al. Trichotillomania: An ACT-enhanced Behavior Therapy Approach Therapist Guide. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press; 2008.
- Fact sheet: Trichotillomania. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF9926-1372-4D20-C88C1DDD5A71D709. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- About trichotillomania. Trichotillomania Learning Center. http://www.trich.org/about_trich. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Trichotillomania in childhood: Case series and review. Pediatrics. 2004;113:3494.
- Trichotillomania. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Alternative treatments. Trichotillomania Learning Center. http://www.trich.org/treatment_resources/Alternative.asp. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Chamberlain SR, et al. Lifting the veil on trichotillomania. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007;164:568.
- Walsh KH, et al. Trichotillomania. Presentation, etiology, diagnosis and therapy. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2001;2:327.
- Zuchner S et al. SLITRK1 mutations in Tricholtillomania. Molecular Psychiatry. 2006;11:888. http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v11/n10/full/4001865a.html. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
- Woods DW et al. Understanding and Treating Trichotillomania: What We Know and What We Don't Know. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2006;29:487. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/article/body/114970872-3/jorg=journal&source=MI&sp=16170821&sid=786898514/N/532552/1.html?issn=0193-953X. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
