Hair regrowth after trichotillomania-related hair loss is possible, but the process can take time and varies from person to person.
Yes it's possible, the follicles may not grow back exactly the same due to damage, but it will grow back to an extent. I was able to go almost a full year without pulling and my hair came back after ~6-9months but didn't reach complete fullness before I started pulling behaviors again.
Reverse the hair loss caused by Trichotillomania
In that case, one of the most effective ways to improve your hairline and scalp is by getting a hair transplant from Wimpole Clinic, which was voted the best hair transplant clinic of 2023 (and for the past 3 years running).
Yes, plucked hair can regrow. Hair follicles have the ability to regenerate, and plucking a hair removes it from the follicle but doesn't necessarily damage the follicle permanently. However, consistent and aggressive plucking may lead to follicle damage over time.
Overall, natural recovery in trichotillomania was relatively common (24.9%), and was associated with lower rates of comorbidities of several related disorders, especially (but not exclusively) OCD.
Dealing with trichotillomania may often feel like an isolating experience, but you're certainly not alone, nor is it anything to be ashamed of. It may also feel at times as if trichotillomania is impossible to overcome, but that's not true either.
In most cases, hair that is pulled from the scalp will grow back. However, repeated pulling or excessive pulling can cause scarring and permanent hair loss.
So dead hair follicles can look like a smooth, bald patch of skin or like a scar. A trichologist may be able to get a better view of your follicles by using a microscope or other trichological tools.
Constantly pulling out hair can cause scarring, infections and other damage to the skin on your scalp or the area where hair is pulled out. This can permanently affect hair growth.
Typically, your eyebrows should grow back on their own within a few months. Depending on the reason for your hair loss, treatments like topical or injectable steroids, medication (such as minoxidil or bimatoprost), PRP injections, or vitamin supplements may help to promote your eyebrow growth.
“Don't Look Up” actor Leonardo DiCaprio is believed to have trichotillomania due to openly sharing on multiple accounts of suffering from OCD. Leo has spoken about living with OCD throughout his childhood and adult life.
Adults with trichotillomania frequently report that their pulling worsens during periods of heightened anxiety [9]. Alternatively, hair pulling for many adults leads to avoidance of social activities and results in anxiety during intimate situations [6], [10], [11].
In addition to reducing the urge to pull, it is believed vitamin D supplementation significantly improved hair regrowth, which is often not seen after treatment with antidepressants or other medications alone. Studies have identified the use of vitamin D3 analogs to stimulate hair regrowth.
Minoxidil foam is a clinically proven treatment for hair loss that can be effective in reversing the effects of trichotillomania. It works by stimulating hair follicles and promoting hair regrowth.
Scar Tissue Formation
If pulling leads to scarring, the follicle can become permanently sealed, making hair regrowth impossible. This is a common issue in conditions like traction alopecia, where ongoing tension on the scalp physically damages the follicle structure.
Children commonly pull their hair in this way, but that behavior is often a self-soothing act. Children often grow out of this behavior and don't have any long-term negative effects. Adolescents, teenagers and adults with this condition tend to have much more severe problems.
The good news is that trichotillomania hair loss typically isn't permanent, and there are plenty of ways to encourage new growth, from PRP therapy to topical medications.
Once patients have controlled their impulses to pull their hair they may want to explore medications that can help grow back their hair such as Minoxidil. If patients wish to restore lost hair they can consider hair transplant surgery for trichotillomania.
With a 1% prevalence rate, 2.5 million people in the U.S. may have trichotillomania at some time during their lifetimes.
A hair loss medication may be the solution to your dying hair follicles. There are several types of options available. First, there is minoxidil, a type of topical treatment you can purchase over the counter. This one works by stimulating blood flow to the scalp, which can help revive dying follicles.
A natural supplement designed to boost hair growth can help. For example, biotin and folic acid supplements are common hair-loss treatments. 8 Even multivitamins can strengthen hair growth, Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Health.
Causes of trichotillomania
your way of dealing with stress or anxiety. a chemical imbalance in the brain. changes in hormone levels during puberty. genetic - more than one person in a family may have the condition.
If you damage your hair follicles after an injury, they can repair themselves and your hair will grow back. It could take up to four years before you see new hair growth out of damaged hair follicles, depending on the severity of your injury.