Clinical, Dermoscopic, Histopathological and Therapeutic Profile of Trichotillomania : A Case Series of 09 Patients

Abstract

Trichotillomania is a common form of obsessive and compulsive behavioural disorder which results in traumatic hair loss because of recurrent pulling of one's own hair, preceded by increase in sense of tension before pulling out the hair, followed by sense of relief after pulling out the hair. We present a case series of 09 patients with clinical, dermoscopic and/ or histopathologically conrmed cases of Trichotillomania in a tertiary care centre in Western India with female to male ratio 2:1 and mean age 30.78. All patients presented with alopecic patches on the scalp with dermoscopic ndings of broken hair shafts of variable lengths, ame hair, coiled hair and tulip hair (polarized light using Dermlite DL4 , USA 10X polarized). The most common histopathological nding was increased number of hair follicle and pigmented cast. The patients were treated with combination of psychotropic medications and psychological intervention. Out of 9 patients 03 patients had recurrent disease and poor response to the treatment over a period of more than one year of follow up.