On this blog I often talk about pulling out head hair – it is what I do – but did you know that eyelash pulling is also a form of trichotillomania? In fact, trichotillomania can include pulling hair from any place on the body. Sufferers won’t usually pull from all places, but it is common to pull the hair from more than one place.
I’m not sure whether eyelash pulling is as common as pulling hair from the head, but I have come across a number of people who do this. Whilst I do not do it myself, it is perfectly understandable and comparable to the feeling of pulling hair from anywhere else on the body.
People who pull their eyelashes will sometimes pull out whole sets. Not only this, but the skin around the eyelashes can become swollen and sore. Eyelash pulling often creates painful emotions in those who do it, down to the fact that missing sets of eyelashes are often noticeable – as in the case of bald patches on the scalp or eyebrows.
How to Stop Eyelash Pulling?
Even though I don’t have experience of it myself, the single most common home treatment I have heard is to put vaseline on the eyelashes to make it harder to get a hold of them and pull them out.
If you pull your eyelashes, what do you do to make yourself stop or to reduce the effects?
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My name's Penny, and I started OnTrich (a trichotillomania blog) to try and raise awareness about hair pulling, and also as a way to help me deal with my own pulling. I'm a 23 year old girl from the UK and I've been pulling for 13 years. Get in touch if you want to chat or need any help - I love meeting people here.
Ive never picked my eye brows but had trichotillomania when I was younger. its horrible
I picked my eyebrows but not eyelashes. Everyone is different, but I think no matter where we pull from we can all get support from eachother.
I pull my eyelashes. Pulling eyelashes is definitely emotionally painful. We go through the same cycle of anxiety, pulling, relief, remorse that other pullers do.
To stop pulling eyelashes, i’ve been told to tape my fingers together or wear a pair of gloves (like when reading).
I think it seems the same, just a different area of the body. Do you ever find that those tips work? Because they could work to stop me pulling from my head too but I don’t like taping my fingers.
my mother had trich when she was very young. she told everyone that she was allergic to mascara. i developed it when i was 7. i went to a phycologist for some answers. what he told me didn’t settle in me. he said it was obsessive compulsive disorder. i have learned within the past year that if i recognize the “Itch”, and about 99% of the time i can, then gently patting the area until the sensation is gone, has a great outcome. sensation is alleviated and no loss of hair. it has never not worked for me. also cool water to the “itch” works as well. good luck and best wishes.
Karen – Thanks this is a great tip!
I don’t really use them, which is a shame. But if you have the strong will to put them on before a possible pulling situation…I think it could work.
I know what you mean – it really does take some will power to even use these techniques to stop pulling!
I haven been pulling my eyelashes and eyebrows since I was 12 years old. I was seen by several doctors when they noticed the missing lashes and it was seen as a medical issue but they never once asked if I pulled them out, and secretly I wished they would. I am now almost 24 and my family knows I pull them, but its always been blamed on the mysterious condition that made them fall out, but the truth is they never just fell out. I remember the first pull, it was in 6th grade and I don’t know why but I saw a girl pull out one of her lashes, then I tried it and have not been able to stop since. I have heard that its related to stress and my childhood was filled with it, but why still? I am married, have a beautiful child, and other than a little debt I am happy. I want to stop, long beautiful lashes are beautiful, but I just can’t. I do accept it, but every time I have tried to stop I’ll do really well for a week or so, then when there is just a hint of stress I pull them all out. My other fear is that I begin to pull from my head. My long naturally blond hair has been my identity. Is ttm a progressive thing? This is the first time I have reached out to anyone, and openly admitted my TTM. My daughter is one and a half, and starting to notice what I am doing, and I really don’t want to spread to her. if you have any advise please let me know
Thanks so much for leaving your comment. Reaching out for the first time is definitely hard! I am afraid I don’t have all the answers for you, but I’ll definitely try.
Firstly, I know that people who pull their hair come from a wide range of backgrounds. Many are successful and have families and happy lives, just like you. It is a mystery as to why we still want to do it.
I don’t think that TTM is progressive. It seems to be an ongoing battle, with ups and downs. I’m the same as you when it comes to having a good week then going back to pulling again. I wish I could offer advice, but going pull free for a week is still something to be proud of!
The only thing I know about hair pulling in children is the good news that if they do it young they will usually grow out of it. But there is a chance your daughter will never even do it at all. I’d say by keeping an eye on her you should be fine
I hope you don’t start pulling from your head hair, but I’m sure you won’t. Many people just stick to one place – I just pull from head. Good luck with everything. if you want to talk anymore then please just email me
Lyndsey, (I’m a guy BTW), I only pull out my upper eyelashes during times of stress and cannot stop, even when they’re all out. I think you are confirming for me the reason why I pull out my own eyelashes, same as you I had a very stressful childhood (still do in adulthood), and during relaxing times, especially doing work in front of the computer monitor, I immediately start pulling. Do try to keep your eyelash pulling a secret from your daughter, or else she will mimic you!!! I have three wonderful children whom I try not to let see what I’m doing. I have got over the embarrassment part of pulling eyelashes a long time ago and have accepted this as a routine thing I do.
Hello,
I also have this condition, I’ve been pulling at my eyelashes and eyebrows since I was a child, and recently it has gotten worse. It seems like there is a really, really sore eyelash there and I just can’t stop picking at it to try and pull it out, and every time I blink it hurts when one is sore. I end up pulling out almost all of my lashes or eyebrows sometimes before the sore one is gone. Mostly I end up with bald patches. It is really embarrassing being a teenager and all, and recently I’ve noticed that a few of my eyelashes bleed a bit where they’ve been plucked and I’m starting to become alarmed. I’d really love to stop as I’m getting worried.
Does anyone know if my eyelashes will stop growing back? I’m really worried about this, especially since the last bald patch I plucked grew in really strange. About five of them are pointed down instead of up…
As a side note, I dont pull them out regularly, it is usually only if I have been stressed out (Which I have) or if I have nothing to do. I’d say I pluck patches out probably once every three months or so, unless I’m really under a lot of pressure.
Also (Sorry about my rambling) I tend to pick at my skin- if I have chapped lips I peel the skin off all the time, I pick at blackheads and if there are any ingrown hairs I HAVE to pluck them out. Does anyone else do this too?
Thanks
Thanks for visiting and sharing your story. I’m glad you don’t pull constantly, which I’m sure must help with the regrowth of eyelashes. I’m afraid I’m not sure whether they can stop growing. I think some people do damage hairs permanently, but in many cases they will still grow back.
I do the same thing with chapped lips. It really annoys me because it hurts! Also yes I always pick my blackheads. All very annoying! I guess it is part of the way we are though, and it does seem connected to trich.
Hi, i have been pulling my eye lashes seriously for about 10 years. Im 29 and i started when I was 20 and I had a burn out cause of work and other stressfull things.(I did it as a child but just a few occasionnally) I pulled ALL of it a few times and looked like a lezard. It was very embarassing. I notice now that the roots are alot weaker and lashes come out very easly. I read that the roots get shorter and weaker and it could eventually not grow back. By personnal experience, it can take about 6 weeks for it to grow back and YES, the roots are not very strong. But it always grows back so far.
I just want to stop. I tried to wear glasses and wear bandaids on my fingers but nothing works. Anybody as a magic trick?
Canadia – So sorry to hear about that. I never pulled my eyelashes so I don’t have specific advice for you. All I can say is to keep busy in other ways. Get some beads or some squishy toy to play with in your hands, or keep busy so you don’t even think about pulling. Good luck!
Hi i’ve been pulling out eyelashes when i was 10!
I’m 13 and found about trich yesterday.
I can’t stop
i felt mmore secure when I found out a lot of people have this same problem as me..
Thanks for leaving your comment Liz, I’m glad it helps to find out there are other people doing it. I felt the same. I am going to send you an email
hey well i never knew of this. I tought it was OCD. i pull my lashes eyebrows &hair i bite it or just put it in my muth. I dont understand why it makes me feel really shitty [sorry] when i do. . im 20 i think ive done it since i was 13 the lashes was just recent like 2 yrs ago …
So sorry to have never replied to your comment sooner. I understand your feeling. It’s so weird, because at the time it feels good, but then it feels very bad to do it too. I hope you find ways to help yourself manage to control it.
~Penny
yeah i just spent 2 hours pulling out my eye lashes while watching t.V. it was just suppose to be one, but the others didn’t feel right and so i had to pull some more out too. now my eye lid hurts. it’s been awhile since i’ve pulled out so many at once, but i do pull out about 2 or 3 a day. i’ve been doing this since i was 12 now i’m 15. just found out some weeks ago what this was.sort of happy that i found an answer.
I’m glad you found out what it was. It can be hard when you don’t know what it is. Many people have the same feelings as you, where the hairs just don’t feel right. I have it on my head hair too.
~penny
I have a 5 year old goddaughter who pulls her eyelashes. Her mother keeps giving her eye drops for treating pink eye. She knows her daughter pulls her eye lashes but says that she ‘just needs to stop doing it’. I feel like crying when I see my goddaughter’s eyes swollen and red. I know it is a cry for help and that she does it as a result of anxiety and nervousness. What can I do to help her since her mother is in denial and will probably not let me see her again if I keep mentioning the problem? Is there anything I can do to help my goddaughter stop pulling her eyelashes?
This is such a tough situation. Firstly, I just want to say you are doing a good thing by looking into it and trying to help. I can understand why the mother doesn’t want to accept what’s going on. In all honesty I don’t know what you can do about that. Hopefully in time she will understand.
The best way to help your goddaughter is probably to just hold her hand, or keep her hands busy to stop her from pulling. There can be many causes for it, but you might be pleased to hear that young children often grow out of it. I am not an expert, but when I pulled hair as a child many people would just tell me to stop. That was probably the worst thing they could do.
I’m sorry I couldn’t help more, but I hope it’s helped you a little.
Hi,
I have suffered from this trich thing since I was ten years old. I’m in my second year of college now and its acting up again. I’ve been to a psychiatrist and I refuse to go back. I want to talk to someone about this. I’m alone.
Please help,
Mandi
The underlying cause of this condition is stress and the inability to handle ones stress. My daugther is 9 and has been doing this for 8months now. She just started going to psychologist in order to find the underlying cause of her stess. I’ve heard that this is treatable with therapy. So don’t give up on the therapy.
Therapy does help with the constant urge to pull one’s hair out. I have a friend who also took up meditation and this seemed to help as well. I believe it starts as a relief for stress in a person’s life and then later just turns into a habit.
Patrick
Patrick – Thanks for your comment, I also think meditation is a very good practice and something I want to try more of.
hey GUys!
I give credit to those that have families and that are dealing wtih this! I wish I could stop 
I haev tried hats, gloves tape but I end up playing a game with myself and pull. My eyelashes r growing back and I am so happy I can put mascara on and they flip up, not to much and only in certain spotslol. Eyeliner has become a best friend lol. I pull from stress and the way it feels, i think that if I can go pull free today and tomorrow I can continue something I hope will be the rest of my life ugh!!!
I am 20 years old, and have been pulling my hair and eyelashes since the 5th grade. Recently this has been the worst though I noticed I pull when I am bored or not doing anything or when I am stressed out, and being a college student I def have a bald spot that I cover with other hair. Its terrible because I cannot put my hair up. After finding this site I am willing to stop pulling. I just think about my future as a mother, getting married or goin into the work force. How would I explain this to my children to make them understand? or walkin down the asile with a huge bald spot? The more & more i think of this I feel as though I can use this so when I have a family I can be pull free
Its good to knwo you guys are out there
Good luck!!
I have been pulling out my eyelashes since I was 7 yrs old. I am 31 now. I use to pull them out all the time. Now, it seems to come and go. My parents took me to doctors when I was young. All they did was want to put me on medication that did not seem to help but make things worse. It changed my personality which my parents decided was not a good thing. My parents tried to reward me for stopping with things like buying me a cat. They also tried punishing me which they realized quickly was not the right answer to the problem. Life was already hard enough on me because I had to go to school like this and everyone knew. I was picked on and of course all the cute boys that I had crushes on did not like me and picked on me also. There have been periods of time when I have stopped. I am not sure why I start again. It’s an urge that I cannot fulfill until I do it. I didn’t even know the name of this problem until about a year ago when I started to look online. I don’t think I ever wanted to know. My parents decided not to make it an issue anymore and have been supportive for many years. I have a child and have been married for almost 8 years now. My husband is aware but doesn’t make it an issue. He loves me no matter what!
I read the other comments above and I can relate to so many of you. I definitely feel much like Briana who wrote that her lashes are sore and that makes her want to pull them out. I have never heard anyone explain it like that and that’s exactly how I feel. I know when I do it. I will actually do it in front of the mirror. If a lash is sore then I especially want to pull it out because I can’t stand to feel it. Then I wind up pulling others out also. I want to stop because I have been doing it for so long and they eventually won’t grow back. I have been doing this for 24 years and I have lashes in spots that don’t grow back anymore and many of my lashes now grow back in all different directions which I can’t stand. My lashes are much, much thinner. I also, have lashes that once I pull them, the spot bleeds. I want to stop for good because I don’t want to be like this for the rest of my life. I am running out of time because if I don’t stop soon then I think the ability for my lashes to even grow back will stop soon.
I have not had any luck with medications that seem to make me feel worse. I have tried counseling and it does help some but doesn’t fix the problem completely. I do feel that this is related to my OCD behavior and issues with anxiety. I just can’t seem to find a good release for the anxiety that I feel.
I have never wrote about this or shared with anyone else but my family and counselors. It does make me feel better to know there are others out there like me.
Has anyone found something that seems to help them? I read an article about vitamin difficiencies and how this may be one of the many causes. I take many vitamin supplements and that doesn’t seem to help. Anyone else found something, even if you think it’s crazy, that helps you deal with this? I would love to know. Thanks for listening.
this is so crazy! I too have been pulling my eyelashes out since I was in Kindergarten. I am 34 years old and as I sit here writing this my left eye has a bare spot right in the middle. I never knew this was a condition. I always thought of it as a weird self destruction mode I go into. When I am stressed, bored or angry I really pull them out. The whole time I am doing it I want to stop. It feels so good when I am doing it.. I rub them really hard.. to the point where it makes my eyes water but I keep doing it until I finally grab them one by one and pull them out. I also would rub them on my lower lip to ensure that I got the root. I thought I was weird. As I am reading these posts I realize the little corky things I do others are doing the same. I wish I could stop.. as I do it I want to stop but I just cant. As soon as I do stop I immediately run into the bathroom to look in the mirror at the damage and then I freak out. The urge is so strong that I cannot control it.
I responded to your post because you have been doing it for quite a while like me. I always thought I was a freak! Not sure if this is a good or bad thing. I thought I was just doing it to do it.. but now I realize its a real problem with an actual diagnosis! Wow.. I really am not alone.
I have been exploring a few blogs of people who are eyelash pullers (I have definitely found more head-hair pullers than eyelash pullers). I find it so interesting, and comforting at the same time, that I can relate almost 100%. What I can’t relate with is seeing a Dr. about it. I am NOT about to be put on anti depressants. I am such a “normal” 26 yr old girl and I am not going to let trich throw me into that category.
I truly believe, for me, this problem started when I developed allergies when I was young. My eyes would always itch, and my eye lids would get puffy and red… pulling at my lashes relieved the itch, and therefore lashes came out. As I plucked them out, it gave me such a good sensation. But now I can’t use my allergies as an excuse.. I will pull at my eyes at night while I watch tv, or surf on facebook, reading, all while my husband is asleep next to me. It is the only time I do it, when I’m alone and my mind is on “relax mode.” I have been so successful at staying pull-free just by avoiding the “night time curse.” It is possible… and I hate to hear people with trich think they have a mental disorder! It is not. If people who pull out their eyelashes/brows/hair needs to be put on happy pills, then SO DO FINGER NAIL BITTERS! Here are some things that have helped me avoid the urge to pull my lashes out: 1) Talk to someone who you love about it. My husband encourages me to keep my beautiful lashes. To see him hurt and disappointed when I have bald spots on my lids is encouraging and extremely motivating for me. 2) The second you feel an urge to pull, go take a shower! I dont care if you’ve showered three other times that day, take a shower, and imagine your habit washing down the drain. Weird, but works for me! 3) Use redness-reliever eye drops when you feel itchy lashes 4) Pinpoint exactly WHEN you tend to pull out lashes. Is it when you’re watching tv? Reading? Surfing Facebook? When you are alone? At Nighttime? All these are true for me, SO I AV5OID THEM! 5) Get a hobby. I started to make girls’ hair-bows during the evenings. It helps take my mind off touching my lashes. 6) Get out of a stressful job. Stress is no good for our minds and bodies… find a job you enjoy. 7) Keep a tally next to your bed of every successful day you go without pulling. If I pull out one eyelash, I make myself start over. If I go a month without pulling one eyelash out, I’ll treat myself to something!
Pray. Our Heavenly Father knows we are hurting inside with this habit, so ask God for help! Growing spiritually has helped for me.
If you haven’t heard anything I’ve suggested so far, hear this: You do NOT need anti-depressants! This is just a bad habit, just as nail-bitting. I don’t think a doctor would ever give a person Prozac for biting their nails. Please have hope. I do.
I forgot to add to my list of helpful hints. Find something else to pull out that doesn’t matter! NOSE HAIRS! Get a tweezers and pluck those babies out
I had trich of the eyelashes.. I started at the end of 4th grade and I wasn’t “clean” until the end of 7th really. It started as a result of boredom, I think.. pulling while playing a game on the computer, reading, watching TV.. my eyes were bare and looked so odd and bare against my dark blonde hair. People made fun of me and would say things like “Wow.. do you have any eyelashes?” Or the more embarassing, “Let me look! You have no eyelashes! Oh my gosh!” and I was also given the gift of a friend who threatened to tell everyone I had no eyelashes if I didn’t do what she said..
Anyways, my main point was I actually did stop. I’m not clean, Sometimes I’ll take out an eyelash and marvel at the black tip and how it gets lighter until it touches the sticky root.. but what helped me was being around people. I think being happy helps hair grow, and I didn’t want to pull when others were around. We had to go on a week long school trip and that helped me boost. After that I didn’t want to pull because I wanted long lashes so I fought the urge. In my middle year of 8th grade now, I have almost regular lashes. They aren’t as full as the other girl’s, and my bottom lashes are very sparse, but I am proud that I could overcome trich, and I know everyone has the strength inside of them to do so.
I started pulling my eyelashes out when I was in 8th grade. I had recently moved schools and my mother was getting remarried and having a baby. I’m almost 21 now and I think all the stress with what was going on and happening so fast made me do it. I still do it and want to stop SO BAD! I’ve let them grow back before but then after 3 months i started pulling them again..and now its my eye brows too. It hurts too. I’ll get headaches, and sometimes i do it too much and my eyes will hurt. I want to stop..this is the first time I’ve actually told anyone, even though i know everyone in my family knows. I have a 1 year old daughter and I try not to let her see me do it. I know my fiancee knows i do it too but i haven’t told him. It’s hard to admit because it is embarrassing for me but it’s so hard to stop, its like a bad habit. I was very surprised to see so many people with the same problem…its comforting knowing i’m not the only person in the world who does it and wants to stop. I used to do it all the time, but lately its been more my eyebrows than my eyelashes. and i try to hide it, but it’s hard..does anyone have any advice? anything to keep my mind off of it?
Brittney – Thanks for coming here and sharing your story. I know it’s hard, but I hope just writing it helped in some way.
About telling your fiancee, I understand how hard that is. It took me a lot of guts to tell my boyfriend but actually I was pleasantly surprised by how understanding he was. I still don’t talk to him much about it, but it helps to know he’s there. If you can tell him, I’m sure it would rally help you too.
The main way I keep my mind off it is just to stay busy, and keep my hands busy. I also found that writing about it in this blog really helped me to come to terms with it. Good luck!
I have been pulling since I was eight. I don’t honestly think that it was stress related. I come from a happy home and was a happy, energetic kid. I’m in tenth grade now, and most people don’t notice. Thank god for eyeliner. A comment from a friend made me realize that I had to stop. Actually, I’ve been trying since the beginning, but nothing’s work. My parents took me to a dermotolagist as a kid, but I denied it, probably due to embarrasment. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata, but I know it’s not true. I also pull out the hair in my legs. I don’t know what to do at all. Maybe I’ll try the Vaseline thing I read about above. It’s been really difficult, and I decided I can’t be pretty without eyelashes. I don’t want to be considered a freak. Another thing that put it into perspective was in my Bio 20 class, we were talking about various skin disorders, and trichotillomania was mentioned. It brought me an overwhelming feeling of shame. I’m serious about stopping, and I’ll try.
Alexis – Oh I’m so sorry to hear about the shame you felt when trichotillomania was mentioned. I understand, though writing this blog has helped me a lot to feel less shameful. I also feel the same, that mine didn’t develop from stress. Makes you wonder just why it does develop in cases like ours? Please let us know how you are doing, if you managed to stop at all if only for a few days, and what you find helps. I don’t pull my eyelashes, but pull from the scalp.
I’ve known that I’ve had this for years, I just didn’t know it was so common. Reading everyone’s comments also helped me notice things about myself. Like my lashes or brows feeling sore rigth before I get the urge to pull, or that I do it when I go into “relax-mode”. At times I also catch myself doing it without even realizing what I’m doing till my eyes hurt. Its never something I’ve been embarassed of so to say, but having bald spots in your eyelashes and eyebrows is a bit of a number on self-confidance. Is picking at your skin also a part of trichotillomania? & by picking I mean any little blemish till its gone or bleeding.
Sam – Yes you’re right, skin picking is similar in its nature to pulling hair. I noticed my friend picks his skin, but weirdly enough I didn’t even relate it to the way I pull my hair until I really thought carefully about it. If you go into relax mode when pulling, maybe you need to try and replace it with something else? Like other ways to relax that don’t involve pulling? I have just started yoga and I believe it would really help. I don’t know though, just an idea.
I answered my own question, picking of the skin is dermatillomania. Both of with are considered impulse control disorders.
i’ve been pulling my lashes since i was in the 11th grade at least. i remember being in 6th grade and saw someone touch their eyelashes and i was mortified by the thought of touching them for some reason. Somehow, i’ve gotten to where i am now, in which i do it everyday. I often get caught in a trance. Not pulling right away, but playing with my eyelashes on my fingertips. They make my hands feel relaxed. Lately i can feel the tension build up in my arms if i try to stop. I do it a lot in school and when i’m trying to do homework. (i’m in my senior year of college now). Even though i can see people looking at me doing it, the feeling at the time overrides the embarrassment and i can’t stop until the feeling of relief is present which is after i pull.
Ironically, when i moved in with some roommates in college, i noticed that one of my roommates had very short hair on the top of her head and never let it down. After months of watching her go into trances just like myself, i confronted her and told her i had tric, she then came out about it too. We tell each other to stop when we’re around and try to help eachother out, however we’re both still battling with the issue, hers a little more visible than mine.
I’ve gone to a therapist, which i felt she didn’t understand and kinda found my situation silly so i stopped going, however i did try accupuncture for a couple months which seemed relaxing, but i still continued to pull so i gave up. It takes me double the amount of time to get any work done because when i’m trying to read and write is when i pull most. It makes learning very frustrating. I taught myself how to knit, which keeps me occupied somewhat if i’m watching tv, but in situations like school when i’m on my own, i kinda just have to look out for myself. Guess in that case i’m my own worst enemy.
Helen
Helen – Wow, I can’t believe that one of your roommates also has it, it must be so good to be able to talk to someone about it and also lend support not just to stop pulling but also just to make it easier to deal with. And I completely understand about getting work done – this is exactly how I felt when I was at university. And still now since I work at the computer all day, I notice a small pile of hairs everyday which I have to pick up and throw away :S Good on you for learning to knit, and I hope you can learn to deal with those urges when you’re at school!
My daughter who is 8 years old just started pulling out her eyebrows. She had bald spots on both sides- she says nobody notices, because she wears glasses. Well the other day a boy noticed and he asked her what happened and she told him she pulls them out. She also started pulling out her eyelashes. The used to be thick and long and now she has maybe 10 on each eye left.
She picks at school and at home. She told me she lays in bed and night and picks till her hand gets tired. She used to have lots of eyelashes and brows, but they seem to be disappearing. The eyebrows were growing back, but when I looked tonight they are back to patchy bald spots.
Do gloves work at night? What about while she is at school. Do I let her teacher know, so when she see’s her picking she can tell her to stop? Does the Vaseline help?
Do the lashes grow back?
Disappearingbrow – I think gloves would be worth a try, just remember not to punish her but support her, which it sounds like you are doing a good job of already
I pulled one of my eyebrows bald when I was younger, but I stopped for some reason (people say that young children can just suddenly stop – I did, but carried on pulling at my scalp) and my eyebrows grew back 100% perfectly again. About the teacher – my teacher used to tell me to stop. It kind of helps when the child does it without knowing, but at the same time you need to be careful that the teacher understands rather than just tells her off. Canadia left a comment showing her experience of how the lashes grow back, so hopefully that gives you some comfort. And yes I would try vaseline, and anything you can do to keep her hands busy. Good luck!
I have been pulling my eyelashes out for more then forty years now. I started in 2ND grade when I believe something bad had happen to me,however I don’t know what. Now in my late 40s I still have lashes and some bald spots kind of weird this long and still pulling. But they grow back then a stressful thing in life happens and I am back to doing it again. I am sure I cant quite this late in the game but you learn to deal and move on I suppose. They have always grew back not as long now or as dark but they are there. I remember takeing a piece of tape and tapeing them all together and ripping them all out at once,good thing thoughs days are over. Rest asure its gets better with time and stay busy is the key psiyacal activeity is the main key (to tired to pull). Best of luck and God bless.
Keith – Thanks for sharing your comment here (sorry i’ve been slow at replying). I’m so glad to hear that they always grow back – thank you for the positive message.
To deter me from pulling on my eyelashes, I wear pretty eye makeup. This keeps me from touching my eyes so much because the makeup will get smeared and look awful. This also helps me out in the Spring when I have terrible eye allergies and pull out most of my lashes from the terrible itching.
Lana – Thanks for coming here and sharing your tip, so glad to hear that it helps you!
I’m 15 years old now I started pulling when I was in grade 5 I first blamed it on getting to close to a camp fire. Then I started pulling more and I let my parents believe it was bc j was allergic to perfume I pull bc I’m worried stressed or bored so I got myself diagnosed and they said it was alopecia and I stick to that but I really truly know it’s Trichotillomania and I’m scared to tell my parents bc I just entered highschool and I really don’t want to be a freak alopecia is a easier thing to say and explain. And I’m sick of it and I’m hoping I can concure it with tips and doing it alone I’m hopin I’ll grow out of it bc I do feel like my eye itches and I got to pull to stop the pain causing more pain yeah dumb I know but I’m ready to stop