Is Trichotillomania Genetic?  The Debate Goes On!

September 27, 2006 (WebMD) "Bad genes may be at least partially to blame for wanting to pull your hair out."

"A new study suggests mutations in a gene called SLITKR1 may play a role in the development of trichotillomania in some families. The mental disorder causes people to compulsively pull their hair out, resulting in noticeable hair loss and bald spots."

"Researcher Stephan Züchner, M.D., of the Duke Center for Human Genetics, says genetic mutations only account for a small fraction of trichotillomania cases, but the findings may help lead to a better understanding of the unusual disorder."

Read all about it at: CBS News

The debate goes on. This article states that the gene in question has only been found in approximately 5% of trichotillomania cases studied.

Thirteen years ago I decided to stop waiting for medical science to find a cure for me or to learn if my compulsive hair pulling was genetically-based.  I'd still be waiting but instead I'm pleased to report that roughly six months later I had healed myself. 

Since that time I conservatively estimate that I've now saved myself 6,760 hours of hair pulling and saved my scalp 237,250 hairs.  These numbers are conservative estimates based on pulling for 10 hours per week and 50 hairs per day. I'm sure that most weeks I far exceeded this.

I am so grateful that I didn't wait any longer to save myself!

I now ask my compulsive hair pulling students and parents of child trichotillomania sufferers this question, "How does believing that hair pulling is genetically-based empower you?"  No one yet has told me that they find this position to be empowering.

Maybe trichotillomania really does have different origins for different people.  But what if it takes researchers 10 more years to find an answer as to whether you are in the group of folks whose hair pulling is genetically-based? 

From that point how long will it take to develop a cure once a particular gene has been isolated?  Why not take charge of your own hair pulling problem right now?  If you fail then you will not be out any additional time and if, like me, you do succeed, you'll have saved yourself so many lost hairs and lost years!

There really is no need to wait any longer for your healing to begin. The choice is yours and the tools that I used to heal myself are ready and waiting for you right now if you decide that you're ready to take charge of ending your own hair pulling.