Important Trichotillomania Facts

Because compulsive hair pulling is such an embarrassing problem, it is difficult to get exact statistics, however:

Trichotillomania, also known as compulsive hair pulling, is a disfiguring and emotionally painful disorder.  It is estimated that the number of hair pullers in the United States alone, include as many as 5% of the US population.

1. The majority of Trichotillomania sufferers are girls and women, though men and boys suffer with Trichotillomania, as well.
2. Most suffer in silence and hiding, terribly embarrassed by the disfiguring condition.
3. Compulsive hair pullers typically pull just one hair at a time. 
4. Some compulsive hair pullers pull hair out for hours each day.
5. Many compulsive hair pullers wear hats, wigs, false eyelashes and makeup to cover their missing hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.
6. Some compulsive hair pullers experience times of spontaneous relief from the condition, only to have it return again months or years later.
7. There are no statistics on the number of children suffering with the problem.
8. Children as young as 12 months old have been reported to compulsively pull hair.
9. Trichotillomania is NOT an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  Trichotillomania is medically classified as an Impulse Control Disorder.
10. There currently is no medical cure for Trichotillomania.
11. There currently is no medication or medical or psychological therapy that consistently provides long term relief from Trichotillomania. Nor does hypnosis or Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) consistently provide sufferers with relief.
12. Some child and adult hair pullers ingest hair, which can cause a dangerous, intestinal blockage called a “trichobezoar.”  Those who ingest hair should be evaluated by a medical doctor.