Trichotillomania: an important psychocutaneous disorder

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a type of alopecia due to a psychocutaneous disorder, a self-induced illness classified as an impulse control disorder but with features of both obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addictive disorders. Although most common in children, this repetitive pulling out of one's own hair can occur at any age. The target usually is hair of the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic area using fingers, brushes, combs, and tweezers. Therapy for TTM can be challenging.