Hair: Compliments hide my long struggle with trichotillomania

Rosie Myers says she has lived with trichotillomania since childhood and that therapy helped her stop pulling for about eight years; she reports some areas remain thinner and has a trichologist appointment later this month.

Rosie Myers receives compliments for her dark chestnut hair, but she says she has long lived with trichotillomania, a condition that led her to pull out her hair after her father died when she was nine. The behaviour became a recurring habit in adolescence and left visible bald patches she often hid with a cap. She later sought hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy and reports she has not pulled for about eight years. Some areas where she had pulled remain thinner, and she has an upcoming appointment with a trichologist to assess any lasting damage. Key details: - Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) began after her father's death when she was nine. - She concealed bald patches with caps and styling and says she experienced bullying as a teenager. - Hypnotherapy and later cognitive behavioural therapy helped her stop pulling; she reports around eight years without pulling. - Hair has largely regrown but some hotspots are thinner; a trichologist appointment is scheduled this month to evaluate potential lasting damage. Summary: Rosie credits therapy with significant improvement and says she is in a more confident place than during her teens. Some thinning remains and the trichologist appointment will address whether there is lasting follicle damage. She has said she wants to raise public awareness about the condition.