Trichotillomania is an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder in which a person has a tendency to pull and pluck their own hair. This condition is characterised by pulling from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other areas of the body. Trichotillomania is a condition in which the person cannot control this behaviour, leading to hair loss.

Symptoms of trichotillomania may include:

Hair pulling: The person tends to pull their hair, usually during periods of emotional reaction, stress, or distress.
Hair plucking: Pulled hairs are usually plucked out, causing hair loss and often noticeable irregularity and shortening.
Playing with hair roots: The person may tend to play with the roots of pulled hairs.
Efforts to hide hair pulling: Individuals with trichotillomania may try to hide this behaviour from others. Hair loss may therefore go unnoticed because the person uses various strategies to conceal it.

Trichotillomania is often seen alongside obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or other mood disorders. It is also known that the condition can trigger emotional states such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Trichotillomania is assessed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Treatment may include psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy helps the person become aware of hair-pulling behaviour, understand it, identify triggering factors, and develop healthier coping strategies. Starting treatment early can increase the chance of improvement in trichotillomania symptoms.