Why Do I Pull My Hair Out?

Do you recurrently pull out your hair, resulting in hair loss?

Do you repeatedly try to stop hair pulling?

Does the hair pulling cause impairment in important areas of functioning (e.g., social, occupational)?

Do you experience a sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled?

Based on your answer, it is unlikely that you have a hair-pulling problem. People may sometimes pick a hair out because it’s bothering them. Especially in the eyebrows it is pretty normal to pick hairs out if they are growing too much. However, people who experience uncontrollable urges to pull out hair from their bodies (e.g., eyebrows, scalp etc.) may be diagnosed with trichotillomania., a mental health disorder that requires treatment.

Reasons for people to pull out hair may vary. Pulling out hairs from your eyebrows for personal hygiene is completely normal. However, when someone can’t resist urges to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other areas of the body, a mental problem is likely to be present called trichotillomania. Hair pulling can leave bald spots on the body, which cause distress and may interfere with normal functioning. Pulling hair out may also point to a dermatological condition or in other cases to body dysmorphic disorder, in which the person tries to improve perceived flaws. It may be useful to talk with your doctor about your hair pulling behavior to understand if treatment may be required or not.

Unfortunately, you are displaying signs typically seen among individuals who have a serious problem with pulling their hair out. It may be recommended to discuss your symptoms with your mental health provider. Hair pulling is often related to negative emotions, such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, or frustration. Your doctor will do an evaluation to understand what is causing the hair loss and what could be done to solve your problem. If you can’t stop pulling your hair out and feel embarrassed by the hair loss, you may require treatment for trichotillomania. Remember that you are not alone in this fight and with time and effort you can stop pulling your hair.