Russians have been warned about the dangers of obsessive hair pulling

Obsessive hair pulling can lead not only to the appearance of receding hairlines, but also to irreversible damage to the hair follicles. Prolonged traumatization of the scalp can result in scarring alopecia, in which hair stops growing forever. About why trichotillomania is considered a mental disorder rather than a bad habit, and how to avoid severe consequences — in the Izvestia article.

Follicle damage and risk of scarring

According to Anna Matveeva, a dermatovenerologist, trichologist, mycologist, and leading specialist at the Scandinavian Health Center, with regular mechanical pulling, the main impact is not on the hair itself, but on the hair follicle — the root sac in which the hair is formed.

A single injury usually goes away without consequences, but constant trauma to the same areas of the skin over the course of months gradually triggers pathological changes. Under the trichoscope, the specialist sees broken, twisted and deformed hair, spot hemorrhages around the follicle mouths, skin irritation and small crusts.

Over time, connective tissue begins to grow around the damaged follicles. It is this process that causes scarring and irreversible hair loss.

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Women also began to experience hair problems more often.

This feature helps the specialist distinguish trichotillomania from alopecia areata, in which the skin remains smooth and practically devoid of broken hair.

According to Matveeva, in most cases, hair growth can be restored if the follicles remain viable. However, this process takes time. On average, hair grows by about 1 cm per month, so a noticeable result appears only a few months after the injury has stopped. Many patients mistakenly consider the lack of a rapid effect to be a sign of irreversible baldness and prematurely lose hope.

The greatest danger is long-term hair pulling. The difference between "it will grow back in six months" and "it will never grow back" is often precisely in time. If permanent injuries are accompanied by scratching of the skin to the wounds and chronic inflammation, cicatricial alopecia develops. In this case, the living hair follicle is completely replaced by connective tissue, and on smooth areas of the skin, the hair is no longer restored.

Why trichotillomania cannot be defeated by willpower

Elena Shidlovskaya, a psychologist and corporate psychologist at the Scandinavian Health Center, explained that trichotillomania is fundamentally different from the usual bad habit due to the lack of control over one's own behavior.

If a person automatically twists his hair on his finger and is able to easily stop doing it, it's a habit. With trichotillomania, a person continues to pull out their hair even after noticeable bald spots appear, feels a sense of shame, tries to stop, but cannot.

According to the expert, pulling out most often becomes a way of emotional self-regulation. The action itself brings short-term relief: anxiety, internal tension, or a feeling of boredom are reduced. The brain quickly fixes this circuit and begins to use it automatically whenever emotional discomfort occurs.

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Teenage girls began to complain about excess vegetation due to a malfunction in their metabolism.

There is no single cause for the development of trichotillomania. Most often, the disorder develops against a background of chronic stress, emotional stress, increased anxiety, or protracted conflicts. In some patients, episodes do not occur at all during intense emotions, but rather during periods of boredom and monotonous activity, when pulling out becomes a way to fill an inner void.

The specialist calls perfectionism, increased self-criticism and hereditary predisposition additional risk factors. Most often, the first symptoms appear at the age of 10-13 years, when teenagers simultaneously face hormonal changes, academic stress and emotional experiences.

In addition, trichotillomania is often combined with anxiety disorders, depression, and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

Dangerous mistakes of self-medication

According to the trichologist, many patients try to restore their hair on their own using growth stimulants or aggressive folk remedies. The most dangerous are pepper tinctures, mustard and alcohol solutions, which are applied to the already damaged scalp. Instead of regenerating, they cause additional burns and chronic inflammation, accelerating the death of follicles.

No less harmful is the uncontrolled use of hormonal ointments that can thin the scalp.

Another common mistake is to mask the problem for a long time with hairstyles, hair parting or hats without consulting a doctor. During this time, reversible changes can lead to irreversible scarring.

Experts emphasize that treatment should be comprehensive. In addition to working with a psychotherapist, trichologist supervision, regular trichoscopy and careful hair care are necessary. Doctors recommend using mild shampoos, avoiding hot water, avoiding tight hairstyles and additional mechanical irritation of the scalp.

It is also important to check the level of iron, vitamin D, and thyroid function, as their deficiency can increase hair loss. Experts pay special attention to the role of the family. According to the psychologist, pressure, criticism, and constant monitoring only increase feelings of shame and anxiety, provoking new episodes of withdrawal.

Relatives are advised to drop the charges and calmly help a person seek professional help, since it is the early start of treatment that significantly increases the likelihood of complete hair restoration and prevents the development of irreversible changes.