Compulsive hair pulling in children has an official medical diagnosis, "trichotillomania." It is not limited to the hair on a child's head. Rather, a child may pull on her eyebrows, eyelashes or, if she is old enough, her underarm or pubic hair. The repetitive twisting of the hair provides the child with comfort, but causes bald patches. Hair pulling is considered a compulsive behavior, the National Institutes of Health Notes. While there is medication available, behavioral therapy is generally warranted.
Time Frame
Most children begin pulling their hair as a form of self-comfort. Some babies pull their hair prior to falling asleep for a nap or at night while sucking their thumb. This habit then becomes ingrained in the child, who continues to pull his hair as he grows older. School-aged children, for whom it can be difficult to express emotion in words, often use hair pulling to minimize stress at school, manage anxiety or as a form of protest. In adolescence, hair pulling may be the beginning of an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), though it may also be simply a form of rebellion.
Diagnosis
It's critical to involve your family doctor if your child is pulling her hair. The doctor will rule out other causes of hair pulling, such as alopecia areata or ringworm, notes Kidsgrowth.com. Your pediatrician will also talk with you about your child's general behavior. If your child is school-aged, involve your child's teacher in your talks with the pediatrician, as the teacher can provide insight into school stressors.
Potential
The good news about hair pulling is that is entirely treatable. Once a child finds another means of comfort or her anxiety level diminishes, the behavior usually stops. The child's bald patches will fill back in and no long-lasting damage occurs to either the scalp or hair follicles. Hair pulling does not cause brain damage, even in very young children or babies.
Considerations
To help your child break the habit of hair pulling, note the triggers that cause the behavior. Typical triggers include going to sleep, while watching TV or a movie, or when the child is bored (often in the car during long trips). When you see the behavior, tread carefully. Parental involvement can cause more stress, exacerbating the pulling. Hair pulling, if a parent dwells on it too much, can also become a source of parental attention, which can reinforce the behavior.
Stopping
Help the child disengage from hair pulling gently by putting objects into his hands that keep his hands busy, such as Legos or markers. You can also put elastic bandages on his thumbs to help minimize his grip on his hair, making it harder to pull out. If hair pulling at night is an issue, consider having the child wear a hair net or cap to bed.
A very young child doesn't need to acknowledge his behavior, but older children might note it. Older children can also be encouraged to express how they are feeling and mention what else they might do with their hands or to minimize their stress or anxiety. Older children can also keep a journal or speak to a qualified therapist to help learning other coping techniques.
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