Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a disorder in which a person feels an urge that is hard to control to pull out their own hair, eyebrows, or other body hair. It is part of body-focused repetitive behaviors and is usually related to managing emotional tension.

How it may present:

• Areas with less hair or small bare patches.
• A feeling of relief or tension associated with the urge.
• Attempts to hide the behavior and distress about it.

When to seek support? If the behavior is recurrent, causes distress, or affects daily life, it is worth discussing it.

Which specialist treats it? The psychologist and the psychiatrist support this type of disorder; in children, the child psychiatrist is appropriate, and the psychoanalyst can also be involved. Seeking professional support is a valuable step toward addressing it with respect and without judgment.