Trichotillomania is a problem where a child feels a strong need to pull out their own hair. It's sometimes called "compulsive hair pulling."
A child with this condition can pull hair from anywhere on their body, but they most often pull from their scalp, their eyebrows, and their eyelashes. Sometimes a child does this without even realizing it, like when they're watching TV or reading a book. Other times, they might do it when they feel stressed or worried.
When Does It Start?
People often start compulsive hair pulling around the ages 12-13. It is not uncommon for it to start at a much younger or older age. It can be triggered by a stressful event such as: trauma, abuse, change of school, family conflict or death of a parent or loved one. Symptoms can also be triggered by pubertal hormonal changes.
