Scalp, Hair and Nails

Trichotillomania. This condition is an impulse control disorder caused by anxiety or stress. Often called “hair-pulling disorder,” people with trichotillomania have the irresistible urge to pull out their own hair, eyelashes or eyebrows. The area of hair loss is usually asymmetric and follows an irregular pattern. In most cases, trichotillomania may be considered an innocent and benign habit that is best compared to nail biting. However, trichotillomania it can be a symptom of more severe emotional distress or a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In addition, children who swallow their plucked hair may develop a gastric trichobezoar (hair ball) that may need surgical intervention. Trichotillomania can start in childhood and last a lifetime.