Women and Trichotillomania in New York
Riviera Hair Replacement Offers Services to Women Experiencing Trichotillomania
At Riviera Hair Replacement, we work with clients on Long Island and throughout NY experiencing hair loss and hair thinning due to various factors. People come to us for professional, compassionate, discreet service when they want to explore non-surgical hair replacement options. Trichotillomania is one of the conditions we address.
We work with clients of all genders, from different backgrounds, with different lifestyles. Some are getting chemotherapy, have lost their hair, and wish to look like “themselves.” Others are experiencing pattern baldness or alopecia areata and want to maximize their remaining hair and help it to look fuller. Some clients are transgender and would like their hair to match their identity.
At Riviera, we also provide hair replacement services to people experiencing trichotillomania.
Women Experience 90% of Trichotillomania Cases
Clients with trichotillomania can theoretically include anyone. However, in reality, approximately 90% of adults who experience trichotillomania are women.
If you are experiencing trichotillomania and would like to explore non-surgical hair replacement options, call Riviera at 516-364-0110 or 800-772-1523 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania goes by many names – trich, TTM, and hair-pulling disorder. It is characterized by the repetitive pulling out of one’s hair. It is often a chronic condition that varies in degree of severity, location on the body, and how it is treated – all depending on the individual person.
TTM falls into the category of body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). BFRBs are repetitive behaviors related to self-grooming that cause damage to the body. Besides hair-pulling and hair-biting, BFRBs include picking, scraping, biting, or pulling on skin and nails.
There is no known cause of TTM. Recent studies suggest there is some genetic link to the disorder, but more research is needed. Many women who experience TTM say that hair pulling brings them a sense of gratification or pleasure, providing calm or relief in times of stress.
TTM usually begins in late childhood or the early stages of puberty. In children, TTM seems to occur equally among genders. By adulthood, 90% of the people experiencing TTM are women.
What Are Some Signs and Symptoms of Trichotillomania?
TTM is classified as a type of compulsive disorder that is diagnosed based on some of the following criteria:
- Recurrent hair-pulling resulting n hair loss- This could be on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or anywhere else on the body hair grows.
- Repeated efforts to stop or curb the behavior
- Experiencing significant distress functioning in social, professional, or other areas of life
- No evidence of a medical or dermatological disorder or substance abuse
- No other psychiatric disorder that might explain the behavior
What Are Some of the Effects of Trichotillomania?
For some people, TTM is nothing more than an annoyance. It may come and go or be so mild that no one, including the person with the disorder, notices it.
For others, the effects of hair-pulling are physical and emotional. Some physical effects of TTM can include bald patches on the scalp or eyebrows, infection, and severe itchiness.
The emotional impact of TTM can become quite severe for some. For many women with trichotillomania, the disorder causes shame and embarrassment powerful enough to result in isolation, anxiety, and worsening or manifestation of other psychiatric disorders.
Because of embarrassment or shame, many women report a real fear of being “discovered” as someone with a hair-pulling disorder. This causes them to avoid any situation which might make them vulnerable. Dates, professional appointments, intimacy, outings with friends can become sources of tremendous anxiety. Avoiding these types of situations helps some women keep their TTM private but pushes many deep into isolation.
How is Trichotillomania Treated?
Successful treatment of TTM usually requires professional help. For some people, it is a condition that might come and go and be something they can manage pretty easily.
For others, the road is more difficult, but treatment can help.
Professionals usually treat trichotillomania with behavioral training and medication. A therapist or doctor with experience treating TTM can do a variety of things to help women combat their hair-pulling disorder, including:
- Helping them understand what triggers their hair pulling
- Using techniques to help them reduce the urge to pull their hair, such as behavioral therapy or hypnotherapy
- Working on other conditions that might be factors in triggering TTM or subsequent effects of TTM such as low self-esteem, anxiety, trauma, or depression
- Prescribing medication to curb obsessive-compulsive thoughts or treat other conditions like depression or anxiety
- Helping to understand the importance of self-care and ways to engage in activities to increase the sense of self-importance and self-awareness.
- Encouraging individuals with TTM to seek social connections and support
Seeking help for TTM is a critical step toward managing your behaviors. It can also help you realize that you are not alone on this journey. Research indicates that millions of people in the United States experience TTM with noticeable bald patches, and the vast majority are women.
There should be no shame in seeking to reduce the impact your TTM is having on your life.
What Are Some Hair Replacement Solutions for Women Experiencing Trichotillomania?
Women experiencing TTM should not feel the need to hide that they are struggling. Trichotillomania, like depression or anxiety, is a disorder that should be talked about freely and without shame.
But, many women do wish to hide the damage their TTM has caused. Some choose to wear hats or scarves wherever they go. Others seek solutions that are more reliable and allow them to look like their ordinary selves, like hair replacement.
Whether you are actively seeking treatment for your TTM or have not yet reached that stage, finding a hair replacement solution can be extraordinarily important to you for a variety of personal reasons.
Whatever the specific reasons, having a head of hair that makes you feel confident can make a tremendous difference in your daily life and managing TTM.
At Riviera Hair Replacement, we have great options for women experiencing trichotillomania. Do you want to maximize the hair you have with a hair integration system? Do you want to learn more about a partial hair prosthetic? Are you considering a full coverage piece?
Our professional hair replacement specialists understand the needs of women with trichotillomania. We want to help design and create the hair replacement system that fits your needs and your lifestyle- one that will help you look and feel confident.
Call Riviera Hair Replacement to Schedule Your Free, Confidential Consultation
Call Riviera Hair Replacement today to learn more about our services. If you are experiencing trichotillomania, you will find that our compassionate, discreet professionals can find a hair replacement solution to help you look and feel your best.
Call Riviera Hair Replacement at 516-364-0110 or 800-772-1523 to schedule a free, confidential hair replacement consultation.
