Chronic hair-pulling is a psychiatric disorder called trichotillomania. People who have this disorder often cannot control the urge to pull out their scalp or body hair. In some cases, years of pulling can render the hair follicles damaged and unable to produce hair, but hair regrowth is possible in many cases with the right approach.
Step 1
Undergo mental health treatment to help you recover from trichotillomania, or TTM, so that you can stop pulling and let your hair grow back. The Trichotillomania Learning Center states that behavioral and talk therapy, support groups and hypnosis can help you identify triggers and change your behavior so that you reduce your pulling habit.
Step 2
Take antidepressant medication that may control your hair-pulling urges. MayoClinic.com explains that some people who are affected by TTM may see positive results when taking medication combined with therapy. As with mental health treatment for TTM, you need to be able to stop pulling to give your hair follicles a chance to grow new hair.
Step 3
Increase your scalp health to promote new hair growth after years of pulling. The World's Healthiest Foods suggests that an abundance of omega-3 in your diet is beneficial to scalp health. Drinking lots of water keeps your scalp skin healthy and more conducive to hair growth, especially after the damage sustained by trichotillomania.
Step 4
Massage your scalp if you are able to touch your head without pulling. Massage increase circulation to your scalp, which can stimulate the hair follicles to function normally.
Tips and Warnings
- Have your hair cut short as you recover from pulling. The shorter length may deter you from pulling on your hair, and frequent trimmings can prevent your hair from developing split ends.
Things You'll Need
- Omega-3 supplements
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