Trichoteiromania in adults

Abstract

This paper describes two clinical cases of a rare auto-destructive hair pathology trichoteiromania. In the literature a few cases of trichoteiromania are described, it leads to non-cicatricial hair loss as a result of their rubbing and is characterized by splitting and damaging of the hair shaft. The clinical picture features, trichoscopic signs of the disease are presented: foci of baldness in the scalp, hair shafts not more than 1.5 cm long, curved, scaling as a result of scratching the skin. Trichoscopic features: broken hair up to 1,5 сm length, splitting of the distal end of the hair shaft (trichoptilosis), scaling. The data on the differential diagnosis of the disease with other hair pathologies, the possible symptomatic, psychotherapeutic, psychopharmacological treatment of trichoiteromania are presented. These clinical cases are of interest in connection with rare descriptions in the literature, the importance of trichoscopy in the differential diagnosis of alopecia, the possibility of interaction between a dermatologist and a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist are indicated.

Keywords

• trichoteiromania
• trichotillomania
• trichoscopy
• alopecia
• hair loss