Hair Replacement and Hair Pulling

A child’s parents turn to hair replacement to help their daughter who had a compulsion to pull her own hair out.

Nonsurgical hair replacement is the only hair loss solution that can cover the damage to a scalp due to Trichotillomania. Trick what? Trichotillomania or TTM (pronounced trik- oh-till-oh-may-nee-ah or ‘trich’ for short) is a tough disease to pronounce let alone have. Just ask Carly Wilkins, mother of three from Pensacola, Florida, whose 22- year-old daughter was literally “pulling her hair out” for no apparent reason until hair loss became noticeable on her head.

If that hair loss condition sounds painful, it is. A person pulling their hair either out by the follicles or until it snaps and breaks causes the loss of hair. If it goes on long enough and becomes a habit, hair follicles can actually be traumatized to death. Treatment was important. And the sooner the better, the Wilkins’ found out, from what they read and researched. They also wondered if a hair replacement solution of some kind would help break the cycle and hide the hair loss.

It turns out that Trich was more common than they had thought and they learned that the behavior affects approximately one in 50 people and that 90% of those with TTM are women, but the research was inconclusive as to why. The Wilkins’ took their daughter to a dermatologist and a behavioral health counselor to properly diagnose the disease and make sure her hair loss wasn’t caused by a medical condition. The dermatologist referred them to a hair replacement studio that specializes in treating and caring for hair loss due to Trich.

The hair replacement specialist examined her scalp closely looking for the tell-tale stubble, she explained, which was the distinctive hallmark of patients with Trich (as opposed to the smooth patches of Alopecia Areata patients) – proving that the condition is reversible if caught early and treated properly. The specialist said that many times a hair system like a wig improves the condition but sometimes it might not and that clients might continue to pull on hair from the hair system. The Wilkins’ decided to take a chance and do what they could to help their daughter break the habit. They definitely needed the help of a hair replacement specialist!

Because people suffering from Trich are embarrassed and try to keep it a secret, just like the Wilkins daughter did, finding professionals to care for her hair loss that are experienced, caring and discreet was a big part of her treatment. Next they needed to stop the pulling cycle and the hair replacement specialist thought her hair system should include a wig. There are other hair systems that could disguise the broken frizzy hair and subsequent bald patches, but they could still be pulled from the live follicles. What the Wilkins’ daughter needed was something to break the cycles of pulling as well as something to cover her scalp and hair follicles while they healed in order to allow new hair to grow.

The hair replacement specialist fitted her for a perfectly natural-looking hair system. The Wilkins couldn’t believe how natural all the newest hair systems, hairpieces and wigs felt and looked. The cap was made of the finest lace and the hair was 100% Virgin Human Hair, which meant it could be washed and dried, colored, cut and styled to look just like her real hair already looked – this way no one would know she needed a hair system or was wearing a hair replacement solution at all. And, the human hair system could be washed in the shower and heat-styled at home too – it was just like her real hair but it was doing so much more. It was hiding her secret while allowing her to overcome it. The Wilkins were so grateful for the help from the hair replacement studio – who said they were lucky their daughter was so young and that the chances of treating Trich through a hair replacement solution coupled with counseling are high because a hair replacement solution breaks the harmful cycle and lets the scalp rest – hopefully breaking the habit forever.

Contact Us about Hair Replacement