I feel that trichotillomania, or pulling out your own hair, is something that isn’t really talked about by many people. You may have seen someone do it and thought it was ‘weird’ or if you do it yourself you might think you are the only one. But the truth is that a lot of people do this to themselves. It is common. I once read it was as common as biting your nails.
I decided to do a little search for the statistics of how many people pull out their own hair. Whilst this may not offer much comfort, it always helps to know you are not alone, that it is not ‘weird’.
1. How Many People Have Trichotillomania?
This is unclear due to the fact that many people who pull out their hair go untreated and some do not even realise the condition has a name. The estimates I have found state figures of around 2% of the population (I think this applies to America rather than the UK). As stated above, I read many years ago that it was as common as biting nails, but I am not sure about this.
Cases of trichotillomania (or TTM/ trich) have become more common in recent years. This is probably due to the fact that people are hearing more of the condition and people are therefore more open about it. However, I would still say that there is a lot more to be done to make this condition better understood.
2. What Age Is Most Common For Trichotillomania?
Anyone of any age can develop trichotillomania. However, most sources state that it is most common in the first 20 years of life, though even more so in children between the ages of 9 and 13.
3. Does Trichotillomania Affect Men and Women?
Trichotillomania can affect both men and women. However, statistics say that there are more women with the condition. This does not mean to say that it is ‘unusual’ for a man to develop trichotillomania. Amongst younger children the number of girls and boys to have the condition is fairly equal.
4. Do People Stop Pulling Their Hair?
Trichotillomania is not something that you can just ‘stop doing’. So if you know anyone with trichotillomania then telling them to ‘stop pulling’ won’t help. However, there are people who have managed to stop pulling. In some cases this may happen naturally, as is common with young children who have TTM. In other cases this is down to treatment and a lot of determination and will power. Even so, there is no cure as such.
5. Other Statistics
Here is an interesting quote from Wikipedia. I know they are still doing research into this all the time:
“When genes that were suspected to cause trichotillomania were injected into laboratory mice in one study, the mice obsessively pulled out their fur and the fur of other mice in the cage. This suggests that the carrying of Trichotillomania is genetic, and may be passed down from generation to generation.”
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I must say that this is the first time I’ve heard of this illness or term. Great post. Thanks for sharing. I pull my hair sometimes, but then again, don’t we all at one point or another in our lifetime? I hope now that it’s not trichotillomania?
Tasha
Hi Tasha, thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I am sure there is nothing to worry about, so long as your pulling doesn’t become a problem for you
Well after reading this It seems you know some about the disorder but do you know of anyone with this disorder? Well I have it…it is very embarassing and I’m stuck in a world of wigs n bandanas. I’ve searched and searched for a way to stop. NO LUCK YET.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I have trichotillomania myself and find that writing about it really helps me. I haven’t stopped, but at least it makes me feel better about the hair pulling. But I do not know anyone, apart from on the internet, that also has it. I really hope you can find a way to help you with your trich – talking to people online definitely helped me.
hi i am suffering from trichotillomania any help pls email me ??? i need to see someone its a disaster i cant stop and i have no hair ,, i visited lucinda ellery 3 times now but i cant always go there as i live in the middle east ,, pls advice ..
HI i have tricho too(I pull my eyebrows). I have been dealing wiht it for a while and didnt know what was wrong. When i would pull my hair my mom would yell and say “stop doing it”(lol). I do it less now. I try to keep my hands moving or it just try to scratch my eyebrows instead of pulling them. You should try it.
Lol my mom would say the same thing ive been pulling for 6years was there a way for you to control to not pull that much get back to me if you can
thanks for the site
i suffered from this TERRIBLE disease for almost 3 years.. the toughest years of my life… my first 3 years of high school… seems like no one really understands this whole thing unless they are actually going through it… but now that i have quit i see life in a whole new way now .. !!
Dear Lynn,
I am sorry you suffered from Trichotillomania your first 3 years of high school, but so happy for you that you were able to quit. My daughter has had a severe case of trich through high school, and we would love to know what worked for you to quit.
Thanks!
Joan
I think i’m the worst here i’ve been suffering from ticho for more than 18yrs ,, i am 29 yrs pld and this is way to long i lost hope and i am visiting lucinda ellery but its not that easy to go there every six weeks so i try then i lose track as the system gets loose and i cant always effort to go there.. if you have any adivse pls email me
Im 18 abd ive been having trich for 5 years at first my parents would yell at me to stop doing it I really want to stop so bad but I cant and I hate feeling like a crazy person couse none understands me im ab average girl im nt depresed or anything and I still do it bt when I start noticing the bald spots I have I feel super bad that I cnt stop bt now I see other people have it I dnt feel that crazy im just really afraid of going bald
I am 16 and I have. Been pulling my hair since I was in third grade I never thought anybody else did this I always thought it was just me but lately I got curious and wanted to see if anyone eles did I see that mabey I have trich I have been to see a theripes and her rubber band on the wrist thing only made matters worse.my gma tells me to stop when she see me pull my hair than I feel really bad because I can’t stop.when someone tells me to stop it makes pulling my hair worse.my best friend who I have been friends with for 9 years know I pull my hair she’s the only other person I’ve told…I feel really bad when I pull my hair I can stop for about two weeks but something always just triggers it and than I start all over again my hair is thin I have never had thick lovely hair I have always had thin hair I always wear my hair up to cover the bald spots on the back of my head…I can’t even go to get my hair cut because I hate explaining to the girl who cuts my hair why I pull my hair…because I don’t know why but its great to know I am not alone in this fight to stop pulling hair I always thought I was a freak I love my hair but it makes no since why I can’t stop pulling my hair as I said before its great to know I am not alone
i have had it for 4 years now and at one point i had no hair on the back of my head and now it grew back and its so badly damaged now an i cant stop pulling it out D: