Hair pulling children may seem shocking to you, or perhaps confusing, but the truth is that they are more common than you might expect. If your child has started pulling their own hair out then the chances are they have a disorder known as trichotillomania. Don't worry - it isn't as bad as it sounds!

I have trichotillomania myself, so please realise that a lot of this information comes from personal experience and research. I am not an expert.

Trichotillomania simply means a compulsion to pull out your own hair, from any area of the body. In children, it can start as early as the toddler years, and often commonly starts around the time of puberty.

It can generally happen at any time, in both girls and boys. This hub will give you some more information about what the condition is, what you can do about it, and what you can expect in the future.

Trichotillomania, or hair pulling, at any age is not necessarily causing any harm. Some of the main effects of hair pulling include:

• Physical effects such as loss of hair and bald patches,
• Emotional distress once the child gets old enough to realise that there is a problem,
• Trouble with other children, and adults, understanding what they are doing.

The good news is that there is no danger to health in most cases. However, if your child eats the hair (otherwise known as trichophagia) this can cause a risk of a giant hair ball forming in the stomach which must be removed.

The main reason why people seek treatment for hair pulling children is that it can cause emotional distress. It is also often used as a response to stressful situations, which is why some parents may look to an underlying cause. Often, however, there is no other reason than a simple compulsion.

To understand whether hair pulling children will ever stop, you should think about why they do it:

• Some very young children will not know they are doing it and do it subconsciously,
• Some people start pulling hair as a result of trauma,
• Other children use it as a response to stress,
• For many, it starts because of changes in puberty.

The good news is that trichotillomania in children is largely something that they will grow out of, particularly in children who start pulling at a very young age. For those who develop the condition in puberty, they may pull their hair all their life. This may seem bad, but the truth is many people learn how to deal with it.

What You Can Do to Help

The best way you can help your child is to understand. If they are very young, you can intervene to help them stop. Methods such as making your child wear a hat or gloves can stop them from pulling their hair.

Taking your child to the doctor could help, but it's important to remember that not a lot of doctors know how to effectively treat the condition. In my experience, the best way of treating it is to try to understand.

You can also ask me for personal advice in the comments if you wish.

At first, it may be hard to understand hair pulling children, but the good news is that the Internet is providing a wealth of information on what to do and what to expect.

Though the condition isn't recognised by many, it is in fact very common. Just know that you and your child are not alone. Take time to understand, and remember that your child may find it difficult to stop pulling no matter how hard they try. What they need is love and support.