Trichotillomania and Chronic Skin Picking

"Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder that causes people to pull out the hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic area, underarms, beard, chest, legs or other parts of the body, resulting in noticeable bald patches. Hair pulling varies greatly in its severity, location on the body, and response to treatment. For some people, at some times, trichotillomania is mild and can be quelled with a bit of extra awareness and concentration. For others, at times the urge may be so strong that it makes thinking of anything else nearly impossible."

"Chronic Skin Picking (CSP), also known as Dermatillomania, is a serious and poorly understood problem. People who suffer from CSP repetitively touch, rub, scratch, pick at, or dig into their skin, often in an attempt to remove small irregularities or perceived imperfections. This behavior may result in skin discoloration or scarring. In more serious cases, severe tissue damage and visible disfigurement can result.

CSP is now thought of as one of many Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) in which a person can cause harm or damage to themselves or their appearance. Other BFRBs include chronic hair pulling (trichotillomania), biting the insides of the cheeks, and severe nail biting."

The main treatment choices include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medications. Several behavioral techniques (a subset of CBT) were first studied and usually are a part of the treatment package. Anti-depressant medication has been the most widely used and studied medications for TTM. Some evidence suggests that those anti-depressants that raise levels of both serotonin and norepenephrine (SSNRIs), such as Effexor, may work better than those who raise only one or the other. A recent study showed N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, to show promise as an effective treatment.

Use Weekly Trich & Pick Busters Checklist to begin or add to your recovery. Trichotillomania and Chronic Skin Picking Resources. For additional information on these topics, got to the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC).

Adult Group Therapy for Chronic Hair Pulling and Chronic Skin Picking

STOP Picking on Yourself!

Karen Tomoff, LPCC and I are offering a six session bi-weekly group specifically for adults with either Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) or Dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking). Another six session group is scheduled to begin on 4/12/10. The group will meet in Rocky River at 7:10 PM.

The group focuses primarily on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. This therapy has consistently been found to be the most effective treatment for hair pulling and skin picking.

The group requires an assessment prior to participation, unless you are a current/previous client. Contact me for more information.

ONLINE HELP

If are unable to find or afford a therapist with special training with trichotillomania or dermatillomania, there are support groups in many areas TLC Support Groups, as well as online support groups TLC Online Resources.

Also available are paid interactive sites ($29.95/mo.) at StopPulling.com (hair pulling) or StopPicking.com (skin picking). These were written by Dr. Suzanne Mouton-Odum, Dr. Nancy Keuthen, and Dr. Allison Jones Stocker, all leading experts on these topics.

DON'T GIVE UP! More is being learned all the time in finding more effective treatments.

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