Trichotillomania, or hair pulling, is a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB) that is broadly under the category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. It involves repetitive hair pulling from any place on the body, including the head, eyebrows, legs and arms, or pubic area. People with trichotillomania feel a strong urge or pressure to pull their hair and often experience pleasure while doing it, although they will also feel shame or anxiety about this behaviour as well. It is not uncommon for people with trichotillomania to play with or eat the hair, or bite the root.
Skin Picking, or Excoriation Disorder, is a BFRB that involves picking or scratching at pimples, bumps, or scabs on the skin, usually on the face, chest, or back. Most people who pick their skin feel shame and embarrassment over their picking, although the motivation for it is often to clear up the skin and remove imperfections.
Although it is normal to occasionally pick at your skin or pull a hair, excessive skin picking or hair pulling leads to significant anxiety or distress to the individual. For those with trichotillomania, significant hair loss and bald patches can occur, and excessive skin picking can lead to bleeding, irritation of the skin, or scarring, all of which can cause great distress and interference in the person’s life.
