Trichotillomania

Aileen Zhang, Victoria Lenihan, M.D., Anne Leonpacher, M.D., Paul Nestadt, M.D., H. Richard Waranch, Ph.D.

DEFINITION

  • Trichotillomania is a disorder involving repeated urges to pull out hair from the scalp, eyelashes, or any other part of the body, resulting in irregularly shaped bald spots or diffuse hair thinning:[1]Bald Patches in Trichotillomania
  • Attempts to stop often fail, despite distress or impairment caused by the hair pulling.[2][3][4]

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Last updated: August 17, 2025