When Trichotillomania Becomes a Medical Emergency

"A trichobezoar is a mass of hair that accumulates in the stomach after hair has been swallowed (a behavior known as trichophagia). Human hair cannot be digested. When swallowed repeatedly, strands of hair can collect in the stomach and gradually become compacted into a dense mass."

"Trichobezoars are rare; approximately 30 percent of those with TTM engage in swallowing of the hair and only 1 percent of those individuals develop a trichobezoar that requires surgical extraction. Thus, awareness-not alarm-is key. Understanding what they are and how they develop can help families recognize warning signs and seek care early, if needed."

"In some cases, the hairball can grow large enough to extend from the stomach into the intestines, a rare condition sometimes referred to as Rapunzel syndrome. Trichobezoars require medical treatment and are often discovered only after symptoms develop."

Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder that occasionally involves trichophagia, the swallowing of pulled hair. While most individuals with trichotillomania never develop complications, repeated hair ingestion can lead to trichobezoars—compacted masses of hair in the stomach that cannot be digested. These rare but serious medical conditions may extend into the intestines, a condition called Rapunzel syndrome. Trichobezoars typically require surgical extraction and are often discovered only after symptoms appear. Warning signs include stomach pain, nausea, early fullness, and unexplained weight loss. Evidence-based treatments can effectively address both hair-pulling behaviors and hair-swallowing habits while preventing recurrence.

Read at Psychology Today