COMPULSIVE HAIR PULLING - TRICHOTILLOMANIA

Hair pulling is a type of ‘compulsive habit’ where a person cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair.

It is known as trichotillomania (or trich), or as Body Focused Repetitive Behaviour. Up to 1 in 50 people live with it in the UK, mostly commonly teenagers and young people. It can also affect people already living with an obsessive compulsive disorder (or OCD).

Hair pulling can start as a simple habit of pulling out hair on the head, eyelashes, eyebrows and other parts of the body. In some cases, the person also swallows the hair. If it persists it can result in bald patches on the body as well as sores, bleeding, and infection, and it can negatively impact your mental health.

The reasons behind hair pulling are varied and complex. It can be triggered by new or existing physical and mental health conditions, but every case is unique to that individual.

First of all, it’s important to recognise if and when these behaviours become habitual or upsetting, and to know that it’s ok to seek help and advice.

You can talk in confidence to your GP and there are numerous treatments and therapy services available for help and advice.

The NHS website is a great starting point: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/trichotillomania/

BFRB UK&Ireland is a charity offering support: BFRB UK&Ireland

In the meantime, we can help with supportive products.

HOW CAN WE HELP

We have created a range of products to help people living with a compulsive behaviour, and they can help manage the symptoms of hair pulling in the short and medium term..

Our stretchy organic, handmade three-finger gloves are available in a range of sizes for children and adults, and can help prevent hair pulling by making the fingers and thumbs less tactile or can serve as a helpful reminder when trying to reduce repetitive behaviour. The gloves are designed with the user in mind so can easily be taken off and put on, with no scratchy feel or difficult fastening mechanism. The gloves are touch screen compatible and they minimise sweating.

A Fingers&Thumbs® glove can be a very useful tool as you start gentle practices to reduce your habits, and might just give you that little extra confidence and comfort.

Please note that our products are not cures but they can help alleviate physical and emotional symptoms of compulsive behaviours in the short and medium term.

We always recommend that you talk to your GP about your specific symptoms or concerns.