Management of Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
This may occur during the night as a habit and parents may be unaware
of the hair pulling. A characteristic feature is an irregular shaped area
of incomplete patchy alopecia containing hairs of different length. The
variable length is due to the fact that some hairs will not break with pulling
while others will break at varying distances from the scalp surface. There
may be associated follicular pustules or perifollicular petechiae. However,
scrapings should be taken to exclude a particular type of tinea capitis (black
dot ringworm) caused by Trichophyton tonsurans. The management is similar
to thumb sucking or nail biting with a low key approach.
This may occur during the night as a habit and parents may be unaware
of the hair pulling. A characteristic feature is an irregular shaped area
of incomplete patchy alopecia containing hairs of different length. The
variable length is due to the fact that some hairs will not break with pulling
while others will break at varying distances from the scalp surface. There
may be associated follicular pustules or perifollicular petechiae. However,
scrapings should be taken to exclude a particular type of tinea capitis (black
dot ringworm) caused by Trichophyton tonsurans. The management is similar
to thumb sucking or nail biting with a low key approach.