Compulsive Hair Disorders

October 2004 in “ Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia ”

José Marcos Pereira

trichotillomania trichotemnomania trichophagia trichoteiromania trichocryptomania pseudoalopecia neuropathic plica catagen phase anagen phase hair pulling disorder compulsive hair cutting compulsive hair swallowing compulsive hair breaking hair loss from friction tangled hair

TLDR The document concludes that compulsive hair disorders, like trichotillomania, are complex and require careful diagnosis and treatment from both psychiatric and dermatological perspectives.

The 2004 document "Tricoses compulsivas" by José Marcos Pereira reviewed various compulsive hair disorders, primarily focusing on trichotillomania, a psychopathological disorder characterized by the uncontrollable urge to pull out one's hair, more common in women and often more severe when it occurs post-adolescence. Other disorders discussed include trichotemnomania (compulsive hair cutting), trichophagia (compulsive hair swallowing often associated with trichotillomania), trichoteiromania and trichocryptomania (compulsive hair breaking), pseudoalopecia (hair loss from frequent friction), and neuropathic plica (extremely tangled hair often linked to psychiatric issues). The review emphasized the importance of a careful approach to patients, considering both psychiatric and dermatological perspectives, and the complexity of diagnosing and treating these disorders. Diagnostic tests typically found empty follicular channels and some follicles in the catagen or initial anagen phase.