This is something I have been interested to learn for a while, for obvious reasons: if I am pulling out my hair will it be ruined forever? This seems to be a common question amongst trichsters, especially those who have pulled a large area and are worried it won’t grow back (at the moment I’m only looking at hair on the head as opposed to other places).
So, I started a Great Google Adventure in my attempt to find the answers (I did firstly look up ‘trichotillomania’ in my university library but there was nothing there – no surprises):
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I signed up to the forum at Trichotillomania Support Online which I also added to my list of links. This has a whole section on the forum about hair regrowth so could be very useful.
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I also thought this was useful, about general reasons for hair loss which include trich. It shows a picture of the cycle of hair growth too. When we pull a hair out with the root attached, we are pulling it out in the middle of the cycle which will then take longer to grow back.
Growth Cycle: From what I have read there are varying experiences with hair regrowth and trichotillomania. If you have been pull-free for a few weeks and your hair has not yet grown back then you do not need to worry. The growth cycle of the hair can take time to create a fresh one (perhaps even a few months), and when it does it will grow maybe a few inches in a year at most. When the hair does grow back, however, it may not be the same as it used to be. It will usually be fine, and kinky or wavy if you normally have straight hair. This is due to the damage of the follicle, which will take a while to repair itself.
Traction Alopecia: Whilst areas that stop growing are rare, it is common to experience thinning of the hair, otherwise known as ‘traction alopecia’ according to the page I mentioned above, which can also occur due to hair appliances such as curling irons. If the pulling is stopped quickly enough then the chances are that this will eventually rectify itself over time. However, there are cases when the damage is permanent. From what I have read, it seems the case that each individual experiences this in different ways. Some have been pulling for decades and experiences normal regrowth, while others’ hair is thinned after only a short period. According to the eMedicine entry for traction alopecia, ’sufficient levels of iron and protein in the diet may help promote normal hair growth’.
My Experience: As I have said before, I used to have a large bald patch when I was younger but now I don’t pull as much it is usually just a small amount of stubble on the top of my head around my crown. The patch grew back ok. It was curly for a while, but now it is completely blended in with the rest of the hair. I still feel, though, that my hair is not as nice as it could be. If I let it dry naturally it usually just goes frizzy, and I usually straighten it to make it shinier. I always wonder if I have just damaged my hair so much that it with either never be the same, or will take years of not pulling to rectify. Some of the forums I have read in the past have suggested that time is the only way for your hair to repair itself, and this may be a matter of years.
I’m afraid that I’m unable to provide any definitive answers, but have a read of the forum that I suggested to see individuals’ stories. For the moment I should be revising, which, as you might gather from my last post, I’m not doing very well at!
Hi, so I’m 17 yrs old and I just started pulling single strands of hair off my head. This started like 2-3 months ago and I notice I only pull when I’m bored while watching TV or laying on my bed. Should I go to the doctors to treat Trich? I mean I don’t have bald spots or patches anywhere. I started researching if hair pulling is bad on google a couple of days ago and of course it’s not good for my head. So I’m thinking I am really going to try to stop pulling my hair and if I get bored I should do activities to get my mind off it because I sure really don’t want to loose my hair and go bald! Do you think it would be okay if I could cure my diagnosis by stop pulling my hair?
i think activities are always good to do. Especially one that works the arms and fingers. I used to have this little toy that had removable parts that bend and it fastinates me. i also love string, and to tie knots and things…keep those hands busy….i still have issues.and im 21 and ive had this since i was in third grade.. it sucks
Honestly, stop as soon as you can before it becomes a problem.. the earlier you stop the easier it will be.
I’m 13 and have ADHD and I pick at my hair I have a bald the size of a quater or bigger I think I’ve ripped out fulicols . Do u think it will grow back?
The information you provided really helped us. Thank you very much
I have been pulling sinse I was 3 years old and I am 19 now!! It has been a struggle and I am always saying to myself, “just one more.” for the first time in my whole life of pulling I looked it up and to my surprise tons of other people do it and there’s a name for it even. It’s been 4 days now sinse I last pulled and that is the longest I have ever went! All the research I have done has inspired me to stop. I just need to get past it and I know I’ll feel so much better when I don’t have that urge anymore. I’ve been catching myself ALMOST about to pull while watching tv or messing with my laptop but I force myself to take my hand away because I know if I allow myself one pull, it’ll lead to more. I’m just trying to keep myself confident about it and think ahead and how worth it it was to stop!
That is great! Research definitely helps to keep me motivated. I’ve been pulling since I was 11 and I just turned 27! I am not successful for more than a month on my own self discipline so I put on fake nails. It cost about $8 for a box of pre-polished nails (i have no time for waiting for polish to dry!) I cannot pull with my finger tips since the nails get in the way. This is working because I mainly pull hairs that feel bumpy and course which involves “selecting” a single hair. I cannot single out the hair I want with these nails! So I have a new habit….clicking my nails. Hey, I need some kind of vice!
I am 10 years old and i started at 6 or 7 and i have only one bald spot on the side of my head but all the others grew back i just feel sad for what i have done all these years and i haven pulled my hair in like a month and i have felt very confident about my self and now my goal is to get my hair to what it looks like
its more than a year and a half that i have stopped pulling,its great.i feel so confident and im back to normal life…. i eat vitamins and use to massage my scalp with an mixture that my lovely doctor has gave to me…it was growing slow at first but now its growing like a plant…i love what i did
Good on you Ive tried so many times Ive lost count and Ive also tried taking some vitamins to help also but I dont seem to last more than a day or two I want that confidence back that I had I miss it so much
what did the doctor give you and what kind of doctor? I am starting to stop and I’ve been pull free for a couple of days now I am so happy
Hi, To read the blogs from young girls is sad. I wish you the best and hope you realize that yes there is something that is triggering the pulling. Forget the pills. Focus on not pulling one minute at a time. I am someone whose trich started when I spent 7 months hooked to a dialysis machine. Pulling was my way of coping. The treatments stopped many years ago but my hair (what’s left of it) is a mess. I would do anything to stop and have been unable to for 10 years. So today is another day when I will try not to pull. I hope the same for you.
I have been pulling for only 2 years, but it has made my life miserable. My parents absolutely loathe me and are disgusted, and cant see why i cant seem to stop. I was sober for 3 months, but it slowly got worse until i’ve repeatedly gotten bald spots the size of eggs on the sides of my heads. Im afraid my hair wont grow back, and that my parents wont allow medication, which i have been longing for. They say i have to stop now, as if im just a freak. Im trying my own methods, but i really need help to get my hair to grow back. What should i do?
- CM
Heyy i am in the exact same situation as you. My parents and siblings think i am a freak too and i am scared to ask my mum to got to the doctor. My parents don’t even know that this disorder has a name and that it is not really my fault. I need you to understand that it is not your fault. If you really want your hair to grow back this is what you should do take a picture of you bald spot and whenever you feel the urge to pull, look at the picture (most times it makes me cry). This usually helps me but that does not mean that i have stopped pulling. However it is a start. Try to convince you parents to take you to a doctor. I will probably have to take courage and tell my parents what i am really suffering from. They probably won’t believe me but it is worth a shot. By the way, i just noticed that we kinda have the same name. >_<
Hey, I’m 12 years old and I started pulling out single strands of hair about two weeks ago. After taking a shower, I brushed my hair foward and noticed a bald spot on the top if my head, slightly embarrassing, so im stopping. But, will it grow back? The hairs I pulled still had the black root attached to it. How can I speed the growth up, and will it grow back?
Hi, I am christy and I have posted below I think we are in the same boat with are age and that! Maybe you can talk to me cos it’s really getting me stressed!
There is hope. I started pulling my hair when I was 11 and by the time I was 22 I had some pretty noticeable bald spots. However, I am 27 and have been pick free for 2 years. All my hair has grown back and couldn’t even tell that I used to pick. I found that I picked whenever I was bored. Whether it be while I was driving, sitting at home watching tv or browsing the internet this is when I picked. So what I started doing was wearing mittens on my hands and a bandana my head when I was home or when I drove. This was a constant reminder to myself not to pick. It worked for me so I hope it works for you.
I’ve dealt with this for many years without it being serious until menopause (I’m much older than most of you) However the accumulated damage is noticeable as I had beautiful thick blonde hair my entire life until lately.
I find you can do physical interventions as I did in the past. that will greatly help you until you are healed of emotional reasons.
The most simple is to clip up or braid your hair everyday for at least 21 days (which is often time to change a habit). Somehow make it HARD to pull! Even covering with a hat as a memory device to stop is helpful.
I’m 13 now and I havn’t been Pulling for very long. It started with my eyelashes and then my eye brows, though it was noticeable they have all grown back. I have noticed recently I pullout head hair and I am starting to worry it is noticeable . I am a known to be a quite pretty girl in my year and I am really worried all the other girls are gonna notice. Someone PLEASE reply with some helpful stuff, I am crying my self to sleep every night.
aww i feel so sorry. I have been crying my self to sleep too. I am just 3 yrs older than u so i know how you feel. I am going to give u the same advice i gave someone else. take a picture of ur bald spot and look at it whenever u feel the urge to pull ur hair. It does help. If you started pulling ur hair because it itches u, try to always keep ur hair dry and airy. usually staying under the fan or air conditioner helps.To me it kinda satisfies that urge. If u are the kind of person to do activities then i would suggest that you continue to do stuff with your hands. it keeps your hands away from your head. That does not really work for me since i am not the activity type. If you would like someone to talk to jsut request for my email and i would give it to you. take care >_<
Thanks for the help! I’ll use it, its nice to know theirs someone who cares! Take care,
Christy
My hair used to be really nice and straight and long. I got trich a few years ago and my self esteem was shot to the ground. I’m not quite over it I still pull a bit but never more than 10 or so strands a day which is a huge improvement. I kept trying to quit but nothing really worked. None of those tie up your hair or glove or nail things.
but I love this article though, my hair has been growing back all frizzy.
Anyway I don’t know if anyone reads this but if they do I hope it helps, I didn’t even realise when I stopped pulling. It was more me trying to better my self esteem. I looked in the mirror and tried to smile instead of getting upset over the bald spots. I tried to smile at flaws and thought to hell with it I’m tired of hating myself. So once I really started loving myself and embracing my flaws which is easier said than done, I just slowly stopped pulling and forgot I even had it
I’m not sure if it will work for others, but you all deserve success and I’ve still got some trich hurdles to overcome myself. Best of luck to all of you.
Hi, I’ve been pulling my hair for about two years now. First it started with the crown of my head (the top right?). About a year ago I subconsciously moved to the front of my hair, which has this weird cowlick that I been pulling on, sometimes without even realizing it. My question is this: I’ve noticed my hair has started to get very thin and frizzy in the past few months, and after some researching, I’ve realized that a major part in that is the pulling. If I am somehow able to quit cold turkey, would I be able to regain the thickness in my hair? Thanks