Hair Removal Disorder, Or Trichotillomania In Children

Some people feel the urge to pull out their own hair. The physical consequence that is immediately visible is hair loss that can lead to bald spots on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes. Trichotillomania in children is a worrying disorder.

However, it is important to rule out other diagnoses first (such as hair loss due to alopecia areata) or other dermatological problems that may explain the patient’s bald spots.

What trichotillomania looks like in children

• 0.6 to 6% of children suffer from trichotillomania.
• Children between the ages of two and six are more likely to suffer from it.
• The younger the patient, the better the prognosis.
• The most affected body part is the head, especially in the frontal, parietal and temporal areas. However, trichotillomania in children can also affect other body parts such as eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits or even the genital area.

• After young patients have pulled out their hair, they usually play with it. Many people choose to make a small ball of hair that they can play with. Others like to put it in their mouths, and some decide to divide their hair into smaller pieces. Others just collect it and throw it away for fear of being punished.
• Other times, however, this disorder is associated with trichophagia, which is compulsive hair-eating. In addition to making the whole thing more serious, it can lead to many different digestive complications ranging from intestinal obstruction to nausea and vomiting.

Age for start

If the problem manifests itself in the first years of childhood, it tends to develop before the age of two or from three to four. During that stage, hair pulling is a habit for the baby, such as sucking the thumb. This is because they are not aware that it is a compulsive behavior.

The time tricotillomania in children begins

Usually, trichotillomania manifests itself during family conflicts (parents going through a divorce, division, or quarrel). But children can also do it in bed when they are bored or tired. This is why it is so important to stimulate children so that they do not develop thoughtless habits that harm their physical and mental health.

In adults, this disorder may be due to stressful situations or anxiety. It can manifest itself as the “automatic” subtype, which is the case for 75% of patients, and they do so due to fatigue, boredom or during sedentary activities (watching TV, driving, studying, etc.).

Depending on the degree of awareness during this haircut, there are two types of patients: those who are more conscious and show more compulsive behavior in times of emotional difficulty, and those who do it automatically, possibly during sedentary activities.

Causes of trichotillomania in children

Psychological, genetic, biological and environmental factors can play a role in the manifestation of this condition, and they vary from person to person.

In this sense, it is more likely that a child will also suffer from it if the parents suffered from it. This may be due to an excess of a certain type of neurotransmitter. It can also be a consequence of external variables, such as family conflict, stress, depression or a state of emotional deprivation.

Diagnosis

In all cases, bald spots can lead to isolation or self-awareness. In addition, severe dermatological or infected lesions may appear on the spots, which can be extremely dangerous. This is why it is so important for parents to detect trichotillomania in children as soon as possible.

Along with uneven hair, these children may have problems with digestion, discomfort or stomach pain. Furthermore, it is common for them to deny that they are plucking out their hair. They tend to feel more stressed when they nibble on their hair, which means they can start with other self-harming habits.

Treatment

Trichotillomania in children usually disappears before the child starts school. To help them with this problem, parents need to be aware of the condition.

If your child does not improve, your doctor may recommend medication and psychological support through cognitive behavioral therapy. The goal of this is to eliminate the habit completely by reinforcing alternative, more appropriate behaviors.