I have overcome trichotillomania (15 years ago as a teenager). How can I stimulate hair regrowth?

Question

It lasted 2 years and then, in periods of stress for 5 years after, I pulled my hair here and there. Most of my hair has regrown, but is still thin around the scalp areas/my part. I'm also prematurely getting white hair in my late 20s. Will laser combs/minoxidil/Biotin short term help with regrowth? Is my hair now white because it's been pulled so many times in the past? Will I need to be minoxidil long term? I'd love some advice.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

In general, patients with trichotillomania who no longer pull their hair will reach their maximal regrowth on their own without treatmentFor some patients with trichotillomania, hair pulling leads to some degree of permanent damage because the severely injured hair follicles can not refenerate. Other patients with trichotillomania experience complete and full regrowth once they stop pulling. It is important to understand that for trichotillomania can and often leads to some degreen of permanent hair loss if the pulling goes on long enough. If hair pulling has occured short term and the pulling is stopped some (or possibly total) haor growth will occur. Minoxidil can sometimes help speed this up but check with your dermatologist for advice. The key question for an individual in the late 20s with a history of trichotillomania many years ago is not how to treat the trichotillomania - but rather "What if any new hair loss conditions are present that could be affecting hair density?"A female patient in her late 20s who is thin around the central part needs to be carefully evaluated to determine whether early onset female pattern hair loss (also called androgenetic alopecia) or telogen effluvium might be present. Your dermatologist can guide you in these areas. Most likely the most important issue now is addressing if any other hair loss condition is present rather than trying to get the hair loss from the trichotillomania to improve. That should have happened on its own (however much was able to regrow). For areas of trichotillomania that are thinned enough, a hair transplant can be done to restore the area.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Hair loss from Trichotilllomania if it does not return with minoxidil probably needs a hair transplant to get it back, but if you go that route, you have to be sure that you will never pick on the area again or hair loss will return

I have overcome trichotillomania (15 years ago as a teenager). How can I stimulate hair regrowth?

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