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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Skin Biting And Pulling Of Hair On Knuckles

I BITE MY KNUCKLES, I ALSO PULL THE HAIRS OUT OF THEM WITH MY TEETH. THEN WHEN I CAN'T GET TO THE HAIR BECAUSE IT'S STILL UNDER MY SKIN. I PEEL MY SKIN BACK AND THEN PULL THE HAIR OUT. THEN MY KNUCKLES MAY START BLEEDING. IT'S LEFT ALL MY FINGERS SCARRED AND NOW MY KNUCKLES LOOK WIERD, SO I TRY NOT TO SHOW MY KNUCKLES.I'VE BEEN DOING THIS For About 4 years. DO you Know ANy treatments or things i can do to get rid of the scars? please. id appreciate it - Leilah
Thu, 6 Nov 2014
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello Welcome to HCM

I have read your query and I can understand your concern. You have habit of biting your knuckles and also habit of pulling the hairs out of them. The habit is so persistent that knuckles start bleeding. These symptoms are present since last 4 years.

Most likely the symptoms are part of disorder called as trichotillomania. This is an impulse control disorder of psychiatry in which intense urge occur to pluck or pull hair followed by plucking the hair. It cause significant distress to individual and it also cause cosmetic impairment. Underlying anxiety is one of main reason behind such symptoms.

I would advise you to consult a good Psychiatrist for expert opinion. Many good anti-anxiety drugs are especially useful in this disorder. Fluoxetine when used for about 4-6 weeks result in improvement in this disorder. Consult a Psychiatrist for expert opinion on this problem.

Apart from that Behavior therapy is also very useful in decreasing the undesired behaviour. Hope this helps you.

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Suggest Treatment For Skin Biting And Pulling Of Hair On Knuckles

Hello Welcome to HCM I have read your query and I can understand your concern. You have habit of biting your knuckles and also habit of pulling the hairs out of them. The habit is so persistent that knuckles start bleeding. These symptoms are present since last 4 years. Most likely the symptoms are part of disorder called as trichotillomania. This is an impulse control disorder of psychiatry in which intense urge occur to pluck or pull hair followed by plucking the hair. It cause significant distress to individual and it also cause cosmetic impairment. Underlying anxiety is one of main reason behind such symptoms. I would advise you to consult a good Psychiatrist for expert opinion. Many good anti-anxiety drugs are especially useful in this disorder. Fluoxetine when used for about 4-6 weeks result in improvement in this disorder. Consult a Psychiatrist for expert opinion on this problem. Apart from that Behavior therapy is also very useful in decreasing the undesired behaviour. Hope this helps you. Thanks