Trichotillomania, Skin Picking & Other BFRBs
Body-focussed repetitive behaviours (BFRBs) are repetitive self-grooming behaviours which result in damage to the body. Two of the most common types of BFRBs are trichotillomania (chronic hair pulling which results in noticeable hair loss) and excoriation (skin picking which results in skin damage). Other BFRBs include skin biting and nail biting.
While many people pull out hair or pick at their skin to some extent, these behaviours become problematic when hair loss becomes noticeable or skin picking leads to lesions, infections, scarring or tissue damage. When severe, BFRBs can impact an individual’s social and occupational functioning and their general quality of life. BFRBs can lead individuals to avoid certain situations in which the hair loss or skin damage will be noticeable, or to spend excessive amounts of time trying to camouflage the damage caused by their BFRBs. People with BFRBs often also experience anxiety and/or depression.
People with Trichotillomania may pull hair from wherever it grows, such as the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits, beard or pubic area.
Skin picking most often occurs on the face or other skin areas where imperfections or blemishes occur.
People engage in BFRBs for various reasons. Often BFRBs are used as a way to cope with emotions such as anxiety, excitement or boredom. People who perform BFRBs often experience the behaviour as pleasurable or soothing; however, afterwards they often feel remorseful or distressed.
BFRBS can occur both intentionally (focussed), and without awareness (automatic).
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