Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder, resulting in an individual having an overwhelming urge to pull their hair out. The individual may either intentional pull the hair out or it may be the result of unconscious behavior. Hair is pulled from the scalp, eyebrows, arms, legs, pubic area and/or any other area on the body where there is hair.
The method for pulling hair out, is typically done with the fingers, however, some individuals will use items such as tweezers, for removing the hair. The crown area of the scalp, is the primary area where individuals with trichotillomania begin pulling hair from. Over an extended period of time they will develop large bald spots on their head. In attempt to avoid additional bald spots, they
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The individual with trichotillomania will often display an increase in tension or stress, immediately prior to pulling hair. They will also have a display of gratification or pleasure as well as relief during and after pulling out the hair.
Psychological Effects
There is often a tremendous amount of shame and/or guilt associated with the symptoms, as well as the after effects (the baldness), of this diagnosis that it is often unreported. The low percentage of reports also result in lack of treatment. These individuals tend to perform their hair pulling behaviors in private. The majority of these individuals feel as though they are the only ones with this problem. They will often wear hats, scarves and wigs, or style their hair in a fashion that will not bring attention to the loss of hair.
A decrease in social interactions often occurs, due to the embarrassment the individual feels from the noticeable hair loss. It is not uncommon for individuals with this diagnosis to become depressed, anxious and/or develop low self-esteem. Though the individual may not have previously been diagnosed with a mental illness, the effects of the trichotillomania will often lead to them seeking help for the depression and/or anxiety.
Health professional Jerry Kennard explained to HealthCentral in 2009: Eliminating the stereotype of nail biting, appearing agitated and appearing restless – although this does exist - it may be difficult to recognise a long term anxiety sufferer. The chances are they have spent months if not years, reading people and learning to manipulate their body language and actions in order to appear more confident, laid back or sometimes uncooperative (J. Kennard, 2009). This is simply an act, created to blend in and ensure that others do not recognise their physical symptoms such as fidgeting, trembling, quick eye movements or their fast/delayed/short responses to any communication, explains author and psychologist Jerry Kennard (2009).
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Trichotillomania is characterized by recurrent episodes of hair pulling behavior leading to noticeable loss of hair, increasing tension before hair-pulling or while coping with the urge to pull out hair, taking pleasure or a sense of relief while pulling out hair, and social, occupational, and functional impairment1.
Hair maladies: individuals of all genders can experience hair loss, which might be an outcome of an underlying condition, alopecia or a remote issue. Genetic hair loss affects lots of males and females. The hair can also be affected by head lice.
This "pulling" often resumes upon leaving this environment.[8] Some individuals with trichotillomania may feel they are the only person with this problem due to low rates of reporting.[9]
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Trichomoniasis also known as “Trich” is an extremely regular sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is brought about by disease with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. In spite of the fact that side effects of the ailment change, most ladies and men who have the parasite can't tell they are contaminated. Trichomoniasis is viewed as the most well-known treatable STD. In the United States, an expected 3.7 million individuals have the contamination, yet just around 30% add to any manifestations of trichomoniasis. Contamination is more common in ladies than in men, and older women are more probable than younger women to have been infected.
Hirsutism, low level of body hygiene, sharp razor shaving of the armpit, and the use of deodorants were well noticed in our study, and the proper social and clinical counseling provided to our patients played a significant role in patient's behavior change which was a keystone in the management.