Trichotillomania – also known as Dermatillomania – is a behavioral pattern where an individual is obsessed with pulling out his own hair. Trichotillomania can manifest in various forms like being compulsive (e.g. constantly pulling out one’s hair), occasionally due to stress/anxiety or chronically (e.g. resulting from a chronic medical condition or brain chemical imbalance).
On the other hand, Dermatillomania is basically the same behavioral pattern, but applies to the psychological/behavioral aspect. In fact, the term “dermatillomania” is based on the fact that many people who suffer from this kind of disorder tend to pick at themselves (e.g. pulling out one’s own skin), which results in severe itching, burning sensations as well as some other types of physical symptoms. These include but are not limited to, irritation of the skin, bleeding, crusting of the skin, etc. The list goes on…
In the past, trichotillomania was usually treated by antipsychotic (antipsychotic), serotonin replacement therapy (HRT), antidepressants or OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) medications. This type of treatment seemed to be effective in the short-term, but then the patient would experience rebound effects (or rebounders) and eventually find that all the medications they were taking were having a negative effect on them, thereby aggravating their condition even more. Some even began to form a dependence on the medications. In recent years, newer types of treatments have surfaced that show much better results than those traditional methods, such as those used in the past. But, are these new treatments, therapies and medications effective for trichotillomania and dermatillomania?
One type of treatment, behavioral therapy, has proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of trichotillomania and dermatillomania, and has been used for decades. This type of therapy makes use of methods such as conditioning, stimulus control and learned response in order to alter the way a person behaves. This means that once a person learns how to respond to stimuli in a certain way, such as being unable to behave around females with ocd and trichotillomania, then the person will no longer feel as compelled to pick at themselves or other people, thus no more skin picking or hair pulling. In fact, if these patients went through an entire behavioral therapy program, they would be completely cured of trichotillomania and dermatillomania.
Another very effective method of treating trichotillomania and dermatillomania, which is used alongside behavioral therapy, is called “behavioral substitution”. Basically, this method uses the patient’s own fear of the symptoms of trichotillomania and dermatillomania in order to treat them. With this method, patients are taught how to treat their symptoms naturally and without using drugs or strong chemicals. Instead, the patient learns to replace the negative behavior with a more healthy, positive one such as relaxation and meditation. This is done both in the short-term (in the case of drug therapy) and long-term (in the case of behavioral therapy).
Of course, medication is also available to treat this condition. The most common medications prescribed for this condition are antidepressants (for anxiety), tricyclics (for constipation), antipsychotic (for anxiety and insomnia), and clomipramine (for obsessive-compulsive disorders). There are also other medications available, but these are the most commonly prescribed ones. However, many people are choosing to use all-natural remedies instead of these types of medications. In fact, many people believe that these natural remedies are even more effective in treating trichotillomania and dermatillomania than these typical medications.
In addition, a great deal of research has been conducted on this condition. There have been many studies performed to find out what causes trichotillomania and dermatillomania, what causes these urges to pick at your skin, and what treatments would be most effective in curing these conditions. In addition, there are also a variety of programs and therapies that are available to those who suffer from this condition. No matter what your particular medical condition may be, it’s important that you work closely with your doctor in order to determine the best course of action for your particular situation.
While many experts believe that trichotillomania and dermatillomania can be successfully treated with medication, it’s very important that you discuss all of your options with your doctor before making any decisions. Your medical history should be thoroughly investigated as well as your personal life. It’s common for people with these conditions to develop some sort of compulsion when it comes to picking at their skin. While it’s not considered a serious medical condition, some cases have resulted in scars, infections, or even suicide attempts. So make sure that you carefully consider all of the options before you make any decisions.