One of the major problems of trichotillomania, the compulsion to pull out hairs to calm yourself, is that many sufferers are ashamed of what they do and therefore fail to seek help. This makes it difficult to establish how many people are affected by it, but it is thought to be between two and four per cent of the population, albeit to differing degrees.
Despite this, it is little-known and even many medical practictioners are unaware of it. If you see your GP and they seem unsympathetic, you do have other options. You can arrange to see a qualified dermatologist or a trichologist independently.
Many sufferers describe how isolating the condition can be, saying that they feel like only they are afflicted. It can also lead to further stress if the person feels they are causing their family distress through pulling out their hair, leading to a vicious circle.
There are many different triggers for the condition. It can be stress-related or as a result of emotional trauma. The act of pulling out hairs is calming, giving rise to an endorphin release, which can lead to a form of addiction. It is often the case that the hair is pulled out without the person even knowing that they are doing it.