If you notice that your child has bald patches on their head, you may want to speak with your child's doctor about trichotillomania or hair pulling.
Hair pulling, also called trichotillomania can prove disconcerting for parents, children, and physicians. Hair pulling sometimes occurs in young children, who pull out hair from their eyelashes, eyebrows, scalp or other body areas, which cause bald patches.
Statistic
According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, approximately 2 to 4% or between 2-10 million Americans have trichotillomania. Mental Health America states that some begin pulling their hair around ages 12-13; however, it is not uncommon to begin at an earlier age and has even been seen in children at age one.
Signs and Symptoms
Parents who suspect that there child has a hair pulling disorder should carefully observe their child in daily tasks. Hair pulling often involves the inability to resist pulling hair out, gratification, relaxation, and relief during or after pulling, noticeable hair loss, and distress. Children who engage in behavior like sucking their thumb, banging their head, biting their nails or scratching their skin may also suffer from hair pulling.
Causes
The exact cause of hair pulling in children is unknown, however, according to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, it may relate to genetics or a neuro-biological disorder or even changes in hormone levels. Children who pull their hair often use it as a coping mechanism to deal with anxiety, anger, frustration or other emotions. Some children have a trigger to pull hair after a stressful event, such as abuse, parental divorce, death of a parent or close friend or family member, changing schools or event.
Diagnosis
If you want your child evaluated for hair pulling, your child's doctor may need to take a biopsy to pinpoint the cause and see if your child's hair is falling out, especially if you have not seen your child engage in hair pulling. Your child's pediatrician may refer you to a mental health provider or behavioral specialist to provide evaluation and treatment.
Prevention
Parents who want to decrease hair pulling in children should monitor their behavior and look for triggers that cause hair pulling. Minimizing the triggers and reducing stress in the household and learning environment may reduce the urge for your child to pull their hair. Keep a logbook to outline the trigger, the behavior, emotional state, time of day, and any other pertinent notes regarding the hair pulling incident to help therapy.
Treatment
Treatment for hair pulling includes a combination of cognitive behavior therapy, medication and support groups. Cognitive behavioral therapy will examine the factors of hair pulling and the triggers, and help both parents and child learn new skills to interrupt and redirect responses. Although there is no pill to stop hair pulling, some medications such antidepressants can help ease anxiety or depression that may be associated with trichotillomania. Support groups offer camaraderie and remind the parents of children who suffer from hair pulling that they do not need to cope alone.
Tags: hair pulling, your child, their hair, bald patches, cause hair, cause hair pulling