Hair pulling, also known as trichotillomania, is when someone feels a strong urge to pull out their own hair. This can happen from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other parts of the body. For many people, it’s not just a bad habit—they feel a strong need to do it, and it can be very hard to stop. Hair pulling is a type of Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB). BFRBs are behaviors where a person repeatedly picks, pulls, or bites at their own body (like skin picking or nail biting), often as a way to cope with stress, boredom, or uncomfortable feelings. People with trichotillomania might:
- Feel relief, satisfaction, or release after pulling
- Try to stop but feel unable to
- Hide the behavior or hair loss out of embarrassment
- Spend a lot of time thinking about or trying to manage the urges
Hair pulling can cause bald spots, skin damage, or emotional distress. It can also cause health concerns if pulled hair is being consumed.