What is the Cause of Compulsive Hair Pulling or Plucking?

What Causes Compulsive Hair Pulling Or Plucking?

Compulsive hair pulling or plucking can have various causes, just like most other symptoms. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose compulsive hair pulling or plucking, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "compulsive hair pulling or plucking" as a symptom.

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause.

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of compulsive hair pulling or plucking.

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Hair-Related Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about pulling or plucking hairs:

Do you have an urge or habit of pulling or plucking hairs from your body beyond the removal of selected hairs for cosmetic reasons?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Yes, from time to time
→ Yes, I habitually pull hairs out
→ Yes, I habitually pull hairs out and eat them

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either absence of hair plucking or having trichotillomania, The Analyst™ will consider or rule out various possibilities.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™