$Unique_ID{BRK01192}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Bald Spots From Hair Pulling Habit}
$Subject{hair pulling compulsion skin subcutaneous tissue bald spots
trichotillomania alopecia plucking loss scalp telogen follicles social pull
compulsive balding pluck}
$Volume{L-20,Q-20}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Bald Spots From Hair Pulling Habit


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QUESTION:  Since about age 15 I have had a habit of pulling my hair out one
strand at a time.  I am now 26 and have several bald spots and am getting
rather embarrassed.  A friend told me that read that there is a name for this
habit but she couldn't remember it and I am wondering if there is a
prescription medicine that can help me?

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ANSWER:  There is indeed a name for this disturbing habit and it is not an
easy one to remember.  However, if you take the word "trichotillomania" apart,
it begins to make sense.  The Greek word for hair is "trichos", another Greek
word "tillein" means "to pull", and "mania" translates into "madness".  The
term trichotillomania is applied to a type of alopecia or baldness, that
results when a person keeps pulling, tugging or plucking at the hair.  The
pattern of the hair loss can be pretty bizarre, and an attempt at concealing
the loss may be made by rather unusual hair style.  The disorder is seen most
frequently in children and elderly women, but may carry over from childhood in
to the adult years as in your case.  The diagnosis is clear when the history
reveals the habit, but in cases that are less evident, the diagnosis can be
made by examining the hairs which show evidence of being broken, or by biopsy
of the scalp which may reveal increased numbers of resting (telogen) hair
follicles.  I know of no prescription medication that can directly affect the
problem, which requires psychological counseling and treatment.  However,
prescription medication may be used as an aid during the course of the
counseling sessions.  Depending upon the amount of loss and the location of
the bald spots, the regrowth of new hair that takes place after the hair
pulling has stopped can cover the denuded areas in a relatively short period
of time.  And then your days of embarrassment will be over.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.