Trichotillomania is an impulse-control disorder that causes people to pull hair from their body. Many times, this repetitive pulling action results in bald spots. Trichotillomania is estimated to affect up to 4 percent of the population. However, actual numbers are hard to estimate because many sufferers cover up their actions. Luckily, there are treatment options available for people who suffer from the disorder.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works by identifying anxiety, stress and other factors that can trigger hair pulling. Once the triggers are identified, a trained psychologist can help the patient learn techniques that can help modify their behavior.
Medication
While medication has been proved to help some people with trichotillomania reduce the incidence of hair pulling, individual results vary greatly. Antidepressants are the most common type of medication prescribed for trichotillomania.
Alternative Therapies
Although alternative therapies are not as widely used as CBT or medication for trichotillomania treatment, some patients have reported that hypnosis, meditation and herbal remedies have helped reduce their symptoms.
Support Groups
Support groups help sufferers realize that they are not alone in dealing with this disorder. Many times this positive support can be helpful in identifying common triggers, such as stress, and can result in fewer instances of hair pulling.
Broader Therapies
Some patients benefit from a combination of these treatments. Trichotillomania is increasingly being seen by mental-health professionals as part of broader "body-focused repetitive behaviors" that include picking at skin incessantly and nail biting.
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