Reason for tulip hair, exclamation point hair and some pili torti following a couple years of trichotillomania?

Question

I have trichotillomania. Recently I've become obsessed with pulling out certain types of hair, namely short regrow on my bald spot that seems like pili torti, tulip hair and exclamation point hair and I've been fascinated by them. I finally realized online experts say these types of hairs are in fact signs of trichotillomania. So, I'm wondering how trichotillomania caused this (damage to follicle?) and if I stop pulling them out will this correct over time?

Craig L. Ziering, DO · Answer

Over time, tulip hairs and exclamation hairs will disappear if an individual stops pulling. If you stop pulling out your hair, this problem can be corrected and normal growth can resume in most cases as long as the trichotillomania has not been chronically ongoing, thereby causing long-term damage that is difficult to repair.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Trichotillomania (TTM) causes these hair shapes because of two reasons: the damage to the hair fiber and the damage to the skin below. Over time, tulip hairs and exclamation hairs will disappear if an individual stops pulling. However, pili torti may or may not stop as it is caused by scar tissue in the skin. This scar tissue is permanent and the hairs growing in that area are therefore permanently affected.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Exclamation point hairs are often a sign of alopecia areata and at times  trichotillomania . You can have both Alopecia Areata and trichotillomania

Reason for tulip hair, exclamation point hair and some pili torti following a couple years of trichotillomania?

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Reason for tulip hair, exclamation point hair and some pili torti following a couple years of trichotillomania?

Answers (3)

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