Skin picking and hair pulling need to be part of the mental health conversation too

Trichotillomania and dermatillomania, hair pulling and skin picking disorders, respectively, are often formed as coping mechanisms. these acts trick the brain into releasing dopamine and offer a distraction from stress or boredom... . ... but then leave those afflicted further digging themselves into a cycle of anxiety and shame. The compulsive behaviors are commonly dismissed as not real indicators of deeper mental health problems. In The Know spoke to Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist and an advisor for Smart Style Today, . who explained how living with trichotillomania and dermatillomania can evolve into a deeper issue. “It can definitely make someone’s mental health status even worse, as both of these are physically noticeable to others”. Right now, the chosen method of dealing with trichotillomania and dermatillomania is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Patients are trained to redirect their thoughts and develop new ways to deal with stress and boredom through a series of CBT sessions