Lucinda Ellery Reviews on Helping Patients with Trichotillomania

Hair loss or alopecia describes the thinning of hair in different areas of the body, but mostly on the head. There are different types of alopecia, and the most common ones are often brought about by age, genetics, or excessive damage in the follicles. While most types of alopecia are not considered medical illnesses, they may occur as a symptom of an existing or prior disease, or of an imbalance in the body.

 

One of the worst forms of alopecia is a psychological disorder called trichotillomania (TTM) or the urge to pull one’s own hair. While it can afflict people of both sexes and of any age, 80% to 90% of adult sufferers are women. As insightful Lucinda Ellery reviews say, women see their hair as their crowning glory, and a defining element of their femininity. Unfortunately, victims of TTM often give in to the intense urge to remove their locks, which gives them a feeling of pleasure mixed with guilt.

 

Understanding Trichotillomania

 

Most cases of TTM are found to be linked with other known afflictions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, and mood problems. Many of the victims begin to experience TTM during their adolescence. The disorder then progresses until adulthood with evident bald patches on the scalp and, possibly, other body areas. Wrapping strands of hair around the fingers and tugging them slowly may seem normal at first, but TTM forces individuals to yank the hairs out as a respite for various negative triggers.

 

This condition leaves an asymmetrical or unusual bald shape in one or more places in the head, with scattered strands throughout the area. TTM can lead to a complication called trichobezoar, wherein the individual swallows the extracted hair.

 

Treating Trichotillomania

 

The most effective and popular treatment for the hair-pulling behaviour is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It is a type of psychotherapy that helps the patient overcome the urge to pull out her hair by changing the way he or she acts and thinks, particularly in handling the negative emotions that trigger the hair pulling.

 

The physical effects of TTM can lead patients to lose their self-confidence, which could then cause them to isolate themselves from the world. While they go through the proper treatment for their behavioural condition, patients can resort to wearing quality hair pieces that can effectively mask their condition and help restore their self-confidence. Lucinda Ellery’s Intralace system, for example, integrates the patient’s own hair with the hair piece to produce a natural looking head of hair. Lucinda Ellery reviews also highlight how the Intralace system’s integrated mesh acts as a barrier that helps prevent the patient from pulling out her own hair. For more on TTM, visit nhs.uk/conditions/trichotillomania/pages/introduction.aspx.