716 Soquel Ave., Suite A Suite 716 Soquel Ave., Trichotillomania Facts You Can Help CA Cruz, Santa 95062 USA Trichotillomania: he TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive C Trichotillomania is compulsive hair pulling Behaviors (BFRBs) Service Provider Referral from the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, face list puts professional cosmetologists and A Cosmetologist’s or anywhere there is hair T estheticians in touch with a large client base C Patterns of hair loss include: patchy areas, desperately seeking caring and knowledgeable Guide to a complete baldness, or a tonsure pattern personal service providers. similar to “Friar Tuck” Visit bfrb.org and sign up today! Common Cause of C Trichotillomania affects about ____________________________________ 1 in 50 people Hair Loss C Trichotillomania affects people of all About Us backgrounds and personalities he TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive C Trichotillomania is a disorder, not Behaviors is the world’s leading authority on something one “can just stop doing” Thair pulling, skin picking, and related disorders. Guided by a Scientific Advisory Board of the foremost C Trichotillomania often causes shame, clinical and research professionals in the field, we isolation, and secrecy for many sufferers take a comprehensive approach to helping people overcome their disorder and heal. C Hair pullers may hide their problem with wigs, false eyelashes, scarves, hats, special Our approach includes: creating a community of hairstyles, or make-up support for affected individuals; providing referrals to treatment specialists and resources; training C Treatment and support are available atwww.bfrb.org professionals to recognize and treat BFRBs; and directing research into its causes, treatment, and prevention. 716 Soquel Ave., Suite A Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA +1 (831) 457-1004 | [email protected] Copyright 2016. The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. All Rights Reserved. To learn more visit us at: www.bfrb.org Why would anyone pull out As with alopecia, the bald spots may come and How can cosmetologists help? their hair? go, if the disorder goes in and out of remission. Whether mild or severe, this cosmetic damage magine how you would want someone We’ve all seen images of frenzied people grabbing can be devastating to a person’s self-image, just as to react if you had this problem. Most at their hair: “I’m so upset, I’m going to tear my hair loss caused by alopecia or cancer treatment, Ilikely, you would want to be given privacy, hair out!” This is not the picture of trichotillomania. or even normal balding, can hurt a person’s self- understanding, and a great style! Imagine a problem much more like nail biting. esteem. With trichotillomania, there are often A few suggestions: People with trichotillomania generally pull their additional strong feelings of shame and self-blame. • Be sensitive and compassionate. hair out absentmindedly, while doing other things Treatment like reading or watching TV, or while lost in thought. • Allow time for the client to build trust with you. No one knows exactly what causes trichotillomania, Trichotillomania often responds well to cognitive- • Invite clients to talk about their hair loss but The best-kept secret but there is evidence it is partly a genetic disorder. behavioral therapy (CBT). Certain medication do not force or prolong the conversation. It may help some people regulate their emotions can sometimes provide relief, but are used less • Schedule appointments for a time and place As a cosmetologist, you often hear about your – that is, cope with anxiety or even boredom. frequently with children than with adults. Support to maximize privacy. Ask your clients about clients’ daily frustrations and intimate secrets. But groups can also be of great help to sufferers and People with trichotillomania are not trying to what level of privacy they desire. there is one common problem they are likely to injure themselves or to purposefully damage their their families. hide from you – a problem that keeps countless • Minimize the number of people involved in appearance. Though hair pulling sounds like it Request our booklet “Expert Consensus Treatment other people away from salons altogether. Once the styling process. would be painful, many report that it actually feels Guidelines” for more detailed information. you understand this problem, you will be become good. In fact, the pleasurable feelings contribute • Be careful not to wash-off eye or eyebrow a resource for many others who would love to to their difficulty in stopping the behavior. Others make-up when washing hair. enjoy your services. describe the sensation as similar to scratching an itch, providing a feeling of relief. Still others report • Do not call attention to hair loss by calling The problem is trichotillomania. that it is painful, but feel compelled to pull anyway. other stylists or clients over to examine a (trick-o-till-o-mania). bald spot. Trichotillomania (TTM or “trich”) is a body-focused What does trichotillomania • Do not advise your client to stop pulling. Your repetitive disorder that causes people to pull out look like? client would stop pulling if he or she could. the hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or any other parts of the body, resulting in bald • Have our brochures available so that you can Hair pulling can result in thin hair, bald spots, loss patches. Hair pulling varies greatly in its severity discretely offer your client more information of eyelashes or eyebrows, and even total baldness. and responsiveness to treatment. about how to get help. Your clients may not It is not possible to identify trichotillomania simply even know the name of their problem or based on the appearance of a bald spot - bald Trichotillomania is a very common problem, that help is available. affecting 2-3% of the population – or 1 or 2 people spots caused by alopecia can look very similar. out of every 50. • Join our referral list of cosmetologists. >>> bfrb.org.