Excessive hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting, all come under the category of ‘body-focused repetitive behaviours’ or BFRB’s.

People who suffer with BFRB’s often experience intense urges to pick or pull at themselves, which can lead to distress, harm to the hair or physical body, and can last up to hours per day. These behaviours are often experienced when the person is either stressed and anxious, or bored and relaxed, although can also occur in any emotional state, including when the person is on ‘auto-pilot’ and may be completely unaware they are doing it.

Those who struggle with skin picking, also known as dermatillomania, often engage in behaviours such as touching, rubbing, scratching, picking at, or digging into their skin in an attempt to improve perceived imperfections. This can result in tissue damage, discoloration, or scarring.

Trichotillomania, or hair pulling, can include pulling from many areas of the body including head hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, and hidden areas. As this condition can lead to changes in physical appearance [no eyebrows, patches of hair missing on the head], it can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment. Over time, this may also lead to wanting to isolate from others.

The main treatment for BFRB’s is ‘habit reversal training’ alongside CBT techniques to identify any underlying causes, manage triggers, and reduce the behaviour.

If you or a loved one are struggling with BFRB’s, we can help.

Get in touch with our friendly team if you have any questions about how we can assist or to book an initial appointment.