The name of this disease, defined as an obsession or an irresistible urge that forces the person to pull their hair or bristles in a way that separates them from the surface skin, is trichotillomania.
Tricotillomania word structure. It consists of three words of Greek origin: hair (thrix), pulling (tillein) and mania (emotional outburst). experiences tension. The increasing desire to pluck hair and the tension is replaced by short-term relief when the hair is pulled out. Hair pulling behavior can cause baldness in various areas of the head in the long term, or abscesses may occur, which are more common especially when hair is plucked from the groin and armpits. Sometimes the patient may swallow the hairs he/she has plucked, and if this situation continues chronically, the hairs that form into balls in the intestines may cause intestinal obstruction. Sometimes, a trichotillomania patient does not pluck his or her own hair or body hair, but may show different behaviors such as plucking it from others, plucking hair from carpets or toys, or plucking hairs from pets.
Although the disease begins in childhood. Although it can be seen at any age, it usually begins at the age of 12-13, during the transition to adolescence. Although it is more common in girls, the number of men who grow mustaches and beards is also not small. However, women resort to treatment more often because they have difficulty hiding the baldness that appears after plucking. The disease can be hidden more easily because baldness in men is socially accepted and the gaps in the beard and mustache can be closed by shaving.
Tricotillomania is frequently accompanied by depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance use and other impulse control disorders. The aim of the treatment is to identify the factors that trigger hair pulling behavior and to change this behavior or to teach patients skills to prevent hair pulling behavior in response to these factors. The person is asked to record how many hairs he plucked on which day, the behaviors that triggered the plucking, and the associated emotions and thoughts. Sometimes finger bandages and berets are used to physically prevent hair plucking. Because most hair plucking Since it is done automatically, without being aware of it, these physical obstacles and records will make the person realize that he is pulling hair. Drug treatments also relieve the symptoms of the disease.
Read: 0
