Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling), Skin Picking, and Nail Biting

Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder in which people pull hair to satisfy an urge without consideration for the long-term consequences. Hair possesses many sensory qualities that lure people into a semi-trance, switching one's focus from an emotional state (ie anxiety, fatigue, boredom) to a more hypnotic state. The tactile qualities of the kinky, thick, short hairs or the visual stimulation of the gelatinous root bulbs, split ends or white outliers keep the fingers occupied, the eyes gratified and the mind quiet. Without any warning, the self-soothing behavior takes on an addictive quality that can be challenging to break.

Hair pulling, known as trichotillomania, and skin picking are behaviors which are not well understood by most therapists. Diagnosticians currently struggle to decide on the most appropriate category in which to group these disorders. Some argue that trichotillomania and skin picking most closely resemble obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and should be categorized as an OC Spectrum Disorder. OCD is an anxiety disorder in which people perform repetitive behaviors or compulsions to alleviate distress brought on by recurrent thoughts, feelings, fears or preoccupations known as obsessions. Common examples of compulsions include frequent hand washing to alleviate a constant feeling of being unclean, checking the stove to assuage one's doubt of leaving on the gas, and excessive arranging of items in an attempt to satisfy the need for perfect order. Many people engage in hair pulling and skin picking compulsions to satisfy their need for symmetry ("I have a lesion on my left cheek so I need to even it out by making a mark on my right cheek"), their need for exactness ("This hair feels more wiry than the others so I need to pull it out") or magical thinking ("If I don't pull my eyelash out by the root, something bad will happen").

However, not all people who pull or pick report obsessive thoughts or physical tension to be the reason behind their behaviors. Some people claim that these behaviors are not triggered by stress; rather they occur most frequently when they are involved in sedentary (low stress) behaviors such as watching television, surfing the web, reading, talking on the phone, etc. People frequently report being in a trance-like state when they pull their hair or pick their skin. Thus, therapists recognize that trichotillomania and skin picking cannot be categorized exclusively under an anxiety disorder such as OCD. Diagnosticians have stated that hair pulling and skin picking can be defined as "impulsions" instead of compulsions since these behaviors are not always triggered by thoughts or fears, but rather by an inability to control simple urges or impulses. Thus, certain therapists argue that it is more appropriate to classify trichotillomania and skin picking as impulse control disorders, and feel that they should be grouped with other impulsive disorders, such as compulsive gambling, binge eating and substance abuse.

Needless to say, the ongoing controversy about how to properly classify hair pulling and skin picking and the scarcity of literature about the disorders leave most therapists stumped about the most effective way to treat these problems. Many therapists make the mistake of implementing a cookie cutter approach in treating hair pulling and skin picking and see little or no improvement in the people they treat. It is important for therapists to understand that each person has a different motivation behind the pulling or picking and treatment needs to be tailored specifically to the needs of the individual.

Unfortunately, hair loss, embarrassment and shame are not strong enough deterrents to control this destructive behavior. Once this altered state of consciousness is entered, the primitive urge to satisfy the senses is stronger than the voice of logic that yells "stop!". At ABH, located in Midtown Manhattan, we help people who engage in this body-focused repetitive behavior to take control over their urges. Through weekly sessions, we set reachable treatment goals, offer helpful tips, and support you through good days and bad.

We teach you how to prevent the hair pulling trance from occurring in the first place. By acquiring more adaptive tools to deal with undesirable emotional states, this self-soothing habit can be reversed. It takes a great deal of mindfulness, commitment and perseverance to triumph over this stubborn disorder. But victory does await!

At Advanced Behavioral Health, LLP, we pay close attention to the triggers (thoughts, feelings, impulses, urges, images) that precede the behavior. We are extremely thorough in collecting every detail about the behaviors through questionnaires, tracking diaries, and special monitoring devices, and formulate treatment plans accordingly. And most importantly, we recognize the sensitivity of these disorders and provide the utmost sympathy and professionalism in treating our patients. It is truly rewarding for our therapists to witness new hair growth, clearer skin, and an improved self-image in our patients. We hope that this message speaks out to anyone who has been struggling with hair pulling or skin picking, and that you can acquire a newfound confidence that treatment works.