HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Hairs (white) On My Breast, Is It Trichotillomania Or OCD ?

i have fine hairs (white) on my breast. that are everywhere. i feel the need to pluck them..although they cause me no discomfort? What are these little hairs? Do i have Trichotillomania or just OCD?
Thu, 25 Aug 2011
Report Abuse
Dermatologist 's  Response
Hi!caliboobear,
Welcome to HealthcareMagic forum,
I don't think you are suffering from trichotillomania or ocd ...as you are not actually doing it and is only expressing your feelings.In trichotillomania, patients actually pull out their scalp hair esp from the crown area ,so that appear to be cut from the shaft .
take care,
Dr.chawda
I find this answer helpful
Dermatologist Dr. Gaurang Krishna's  Response
Hi,
Those fine white hair must be the normal mammalian body hair.
If you have a strong impulse of plucking them which you can not resist, then you have OCD. Trichotillomania is a kind of OCD, but we usually associate it with scalp hair. I am not sure whether to label your problem as trichotillomania. But anyways, the treatment remains the same....Counselling
I find this answer helpful
  User's Response
Dr. R.Manoj's  Response
you have not mentioned you age which can only help in understanding the nature of your problem

Generally in the mid adult period whenever people see white hairs comming up their fisrt intention to remove it as they appear so that they can hide the feeling of becoming old which later becomes a habit particulaly when they are proocuupied with sone intense thought

but if age cannot be considered as a factor consult a dermaotogist to understand the cause for white hair growth

Trichotillomania can be diagnosed only when people continue to do it even after patches appera in the scalp disfiguring thier looks but still they find difficult to avoid the habit. some also experience intense pleasure in the pain the get by puuling out their hair whenever they are anxious

Your description also does not show symptoms of OCD. However consult a psychologist to understand you discmfort fully and get appropriate solutions

R.Manoj
Clinical Psychologist
rmanojcp@gmail.com
Psychiatrist Dr. B Raghavendra's  Response
Hi

I would say that if the thoughts are repetitive, intrusive and causing you discomfort, then even if you are not pulling them out, you still may be considered to be having OCD with predominant obsessions (you are not acting out on your obsessions i.e you don't have compulsions)

The treatment can be both medicines and/or talking therapy. "Counseling" in its strict term does not help unless it is being used as a proxy word for psychotherapies (talking therapies).

If you have fine white hair on your body, may be they are downy hair. But if you are an adult you should not have them, as far as my limited knowledge goes, unless you have eating disorder like anorexia etc. But anyway, on this, I will defer to the experts.

Please seek professional help if this is severe/causing you much distress/affecting your life/to rule out any abnormality.

Good LUck
I find this answer helpful

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Anxiety


Loading Online Doctors....
Hairs (white) On My Breast, Is It Trichotillomania Or OCD ?

Hi!caliboobear, Welcome to HealthcareMagic forum, I don t think you are suffering from trichotillomania or ocd ...as you are not actually doing it and is only expressing your feelings.In trichotillomania, patients actually pull out their scalp hair esp from the crown area ,so that appear to be cut from the shaft . take care, Dr.chawda