eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Adnexa

Trichotillomania: Follow-up

Author: Chull-Wan Ihm, MD, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Chonbuk National University, Korea
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 31, 2009

Follow-up

Prognosis

  • In very young children, the prognosis is excellent.
  • In late childhood and adolescence, the prognosis is usually good but should be considered guarded. The alopecia quite often continues for months or a couple of years and then recurs after a variable time.
  • In adult patients, the prognosis is poor and permanent recovery is uncommon.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Biopsy findings of trichotillomania overlap significantly with those of alopecia areata and syphilis. Scalp biopsy specimens are best interpreted by someone with considerable expertise.
  • Consultation with a psychiatrist may be appropriate in some patients.
 
Acknowledgments

The author thanks Dr.C.H. Rhee in the Department of Dermatology, Chonbuk National University Hospital, for his help with preparing the media files.



More on Trichotillomania

Overview: Trichotillomania
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Trichotillomania
Treatment & Medication: Trichotillomania
Follow-up: Trichotillomania
Multimedia: Trichotillomania
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

trichotillomania, hair pulling, morbid hair pulling, hair-related psychosis, alopecia, psychotic alopecia, self-induced primary psychiatric disorders, self-induced psychiatric disorder, traumatic alopecia, hair loss, trichotillosis, trichomalacia

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Chull-Wan Ihm, MD, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Chonbuk National University, Korea
Chull-Wan Ihm, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Leonard Sperling, MD, Chair, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Leonard Sperling, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Edward F Chan, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine M Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania
Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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