Hair is part of our appearance. We judge our demeanor more based on how our hair looks. Spending a fortune on hair care products and visiting salons for monthly spa treatment and whatnot. Everyone wants his or her hair to look perfect in all the circumstances. People are adamant in trying to make their dry or oily hair just perfect and neutral to be able to make them thrive into a stronger and longer black bunch. But have you ever looked deeply into a disorder where you cannot try and resist the urge to pull your hair? Sounds very unusual and peculiar. But believe it or not, such disorders exist and are a matter of concern because no one wants to go bald at an early age when your hair needs to look thick enough and perfection.
Not only is hair disorder a matter of concern for a mere matter of how one looks in semblance, but also a rarely-known fact that hair is meant to protect from causing any scalp/skin disease and keeps our head cool from all the rising heat outside our homes. This hair-pulling disorder is medically known as, Trichotillomania.
What to know about this Disorder?
People with this hair-pulling disorder have a sudden and stimulated desire to pull out their hair which results in broad empty patches on their heads. The most disgusting fact regarding this disorder is that some affected individuals might also try and eat the hair they pull out. Now, one may wonder how can even a disorder provoke you to eat up hair itself in the first place? But researchers have proved this and there exists patients who suffer from this condition and are termed as to be suffering from, Trichophagia.
Trichotillomania often causes a barrier in the smooth social functioning of a person because of how they look tend to feel shameful & low self-esteemed and also, their irresistibility to keep pulling hair whenever they can (a public place maybe).
Also, it is not necessary that the hair-pulling remains confined only to head but when becomes severe, it may be pulling it out from any part of the body, such as Eyebrows, Eyelashes, pubic/genital area, mustache, etc.
What Causes this unusual disorder to take place in an Individual?
Experts believe that this disorder is mainly prevalent during the adolescent period and tends to remain for a smaller duration and some suffer till the time they reach their adulthood if they do not take care of properly to prevent this disorder. This disorder is found in approximately one million people in India. Since no cause has been figured out yet to be pointed finger at due to which this peculiar disease takes place but a rough possibility could be off due to:
- A chemical imbalance in the brain. Hence, becoming a disorder equivalent to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Excessive Stress and Anxiety
- The occurrence of hormone change during the period of puberty
- The tendency of self-harm at times
- Childhood Trauma of some kind
- Genetic condition (In a parent or sibling)
How to figure out that one is suffering from Trichotillomania?
- When such people pull out their hair, they feel satisfaction and sense of relief in them which would be visible if observed closely.
- Even if attempted with them, they won’t stop pulling their hair. It becomes as if they are an addict of hair pulling and won’t survive without doing so.
- They might be repetitively trying to count their hair or twist them.
- Sometimes, they might not be aware that they are doing so but they do it like a natural habit.
- They might feel itchy at those places where broad empty patches have appeared due to repetitive pulling of their hair.
- Low self-esteem and Trichophagia
- Rubbing the pulled-out hair on parts of the face
How to try and prevent this?
Trichotillomania is mostly preventive with the help of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT). Proper medical experts might not still be able to treat and diagnose this yet because it is mainly a mental disorder per se.
- Trying to substitute the habit of pulling of hair with some other activity that could distract the individual from hair pulling.
- Making the person identifying via therapy the factors in his or her environment or in his psyche which is causing him/her to pull out hair
- Since, eating pulled hair may cause gastrointestinal issues, trying meditation and relaxation therapies to divert him/her from any stress or anxiety and calm the mind.
- Try and motivate the individual for practising the therapy and the progress made from it to encourage him to snap out of the disorder.
