Trichotillomania (hair pulling)

Trichotillomania is the recurrent pulling out of hair, and may happen from any area of the body although it is most common from the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes.  In many cases, this has continued for years and can result in bald spots.  This can lead to distress, embarrassment, shame, and attempts to cover up or hide the effects of the hair pulling. 

Excoriation (skin picking)

Excoriation is the technical term for picking at your skin – it could be healthy skin, or may be at scabs, areas of hard skin, spots, moles or other irregularities.  It’s most common for people to pick with their fingernails, but sometimes it can also be biting, squeezing or rubbing.  The skin picking leads to lesions or wounds, which can scar or become infected.  People with skin picking disorder will often try to hide the wounds/scars which cause them embarrassment, distress and shame. 

Potential therapy options

Usually the best treatment options for this difficulty are based around increasing your knowledge of the problem, having a better understanding of your thinking, and making some changes to your behaviour.  The evidence suggested cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is usually the most effective treatment.  You may find that working one-to-one with a CBT therapist is the most effective treatment for this problem, but some people find that some blended working with a therapist and SilverCloud online CBT is especially helpful.

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