Hair pulling disorder: Causes & Treatments

Hair pulling disorder is an underdiagnosed psychological disorder where the patients have an overwhelming urge to pull out their hair. People with hair pulling disorder pull out the hair on the scalp mostly but they may also pull their hair out from eyebrows, eyelashes, or beards. Most of the people with this disorder develop the condition in adolescence but some of them may eventually experience this continually or intermittently through their adulthood.

It is very important to notice the symptoms of hair pulling disorder because that will help to detect the severity of the condition and then, one can consult the doctor on an immediate basis.

Some of the common symptoms of hair pulling disorder are as follows -

• A sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled.
• An increasing sense of tension before pulling or when you try to resist the pulling.
• Repeatedly pulling your hair out, from the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.
• Chewing, biting, or eating the pulled-out hair.
• Noticeable hair loss, such as thinned or bald areas on the scalp or other areas of the body.
• Playing with pulled-out hair or rubbing it across your lips or the face. 
• Repeatedly trying to stop pulling out your hair or trying to do it less often without success.
• Significant distress or problems at school, work, or in social situations related to pulling out your hair. 

These are some of the common symptoms to look out for and get medical attention as soon as possible. 

Risk factors and causes of hair pulling disorder

Some people pull out their hair when they are dealing with adverse emotions or stress or boredom. Certain factors can increase a person’s risk of developing hair pulling disorder including – 

• Childhood trauma – A person who has experienced any significant trauma during childhood is likely to develop this disorder.

Genetic history – A person who has a first-degree relative with hair pulling disorder, then they are more likely to have the condition themselves.