Trichotillomania

Alternative names:

hair pulling; trichologia; trichomania

Definition:

Hair loss caused by compulsive pulling and twisting of the hair until it breaks. The hair may be lost in round patches or diffusely across the scalp. The effect is a moth-eaten appearance. Other hairy areas may be traumatized such as the eyebrows, eyelashes, or body hair.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Trichotillomania is a type of compulsive behavior.