trichotillomania

[prettygoodword]

trichotillomania (trik-uh-til-uh-MAY-nee-uh) - n., a compulsion to pull out one's own hair.


A medical (or at least psychiatric) condition. Usually not diagnosable until the hair loss is noticeable. Can be hair not on the scalp, which frankly creeps me out, but okay then. The condition was named by a French dermatologist named Hallopeau around 1900 from Greek roots thriks, hair + tillō, pull out/pluck + mania, madness.

---L.

Comments

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

I gather that it's more at distracted handfuls than one-by-one cosmetic plucking?

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Yes. Or even more, by handfuls aforethought.

---L.

[dramaticlass.livejournal.com]

Incorrect. Please do the proper research before you answer questions that you are not equipped to answer.

[boosette.livejournal.com]

or concentrated plucking of socially-acceptable places to depilate as a self-harmy thing.

Like ... plucking your leg hair? socially acceptable, even if it gets the "weird" label, but not normal or usual.