Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a mental health condition in which a person feels a strong urge to pull out their own hair. Usually, hair is pulled from the head, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

The exact cause is not known. Contributing factors may include stressful events or a chemical imbalance in the brain similar to that seen in people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Symptoms may include:

Patches of baldness.
Broken pieces of hair.
Sparse eyebrows or eyelashes.
Denial of a hair-pulling problem and attempts to conceal the problem.

Treatment usually involves medicine and psychotherapy.

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.