There are millions of people all across the world who have their experience of pulling out eyelashes and for most of them it's just as confusing - why do I do it?!

The truth is that this is part of a disorder known as trichotillomania, and this disorder can cause people to pull out their own hair from any area of the body. This is a compulsion, meaning it's very hard to stop themselves from doing it. It is comparable to an 'urge' that is very hard to give up.

Pulling out eyelashes is one example of the way that trichotillomania can manifest itself. Sometimes people who do this will end up with no eyelashes at all, causing them to become self-conscious about the way that they look, making them feel bad about themselves.

Pulling out eyelashes comes under the umbrella of trichotillomania. Nobody is quite certain what causes trichotillomania, but there are a few different theories:

Genetics: It is thought that a genetic abnormality could cause the condition, and be passed on from one generation to the next. However, this has not been proved, and if you have trichotillomania your children may not have it.

Psychology: There are believed psychological causes of this disorder. One of the main theories is that it can be caused by a stressful event or trauma during childhood. It also commonly occurs at the age of puberty, possibly due to psychological stress.

Habit: Reducing trichotillomania to a habit fails to show just how difficulthis condition can be to live with. It is more of a compulsion, likened to obsessive compulsive disorder, that is extremely difficult to give up.

There is no certain way to stop pulling out eyelashes. Though some websites might claim that a cure exists, they are simply trying to rip you off (I feel very strongly about this, since I have trichotillomania myself).

There are, however, things you can do to reduce the pulling and to make yourself feel better about the condition. Not all methods work for all people, but it's worth trying to find out what will help you personally.

One idea is to put a lubricant like Vaseline on your eyelashes. This physically makes the lashes harder to get hold of and pull out.

Keeping your hands busy is another option. When my hands are free, they gravitate towards pulling out hairs. Keeping them busy and occupied will reduce this problem.

The downside about both of these options is that they just decrease the effect, but won't cure the urges at all. This is why you also need to work towards accepting yourself and your condition, for example by reading stories of other who have trichotillomania and realising that you aren't alone.

There are a number of treatment options available for eyelash pulling, and you can even visit your doctor for more advice. Unfortunately a lot of doctors haven't even heard of the condition, which is why it's important to learn more about the condition and help to spread awareness if possible.