One fear I have obsessed about is that my hair, lashes, and/or brows will not grow back. In a quest to find answer, I fond the following information most helpful.
According to the book “The Hair-Pulling Problem A Complete Guide to Trichotillomania” by Fred Penzel. There is a huge section on hair growth charts and facts. If you haven’t picked up this book I highly recommend it for understanding more about trich.
According to the book, Eyebrows Average Daily Hair Growth Rate Female is 0.16 mm.
Average Daily Rate of Hair Growth by Age and Area- Young Adult Eyebrow 0.14 mm. Mature Adult 0.16 mm.
Time Required for Eyebrows Regrowth of pulled Hairs by Age and Area- Young Adult 65 (days). Mature Adult 56 (days).
Time Required for Regrowth of Pulled Hairs by Area and Sex-
Eyebrows Female 61 Days.
According to the book, although there is not a chart on eyelash growth, it should be noted that eyelashes are the slowest growing hairs on your body, with a daily growth rate of less than 0.16 mm. The follicles tend to go into a telogen, or resting phase following removal of hairs. Also note that these are merely average figures. The actual amount of time it takes for your hair to grow back may differ from the time spans, as hair growth can be affected by many different factors.
According to the book damage beyond re-growth could only occur if infection is in the follicle, this can lead to permanent scarring of follicles, preventing further hair growth. This is more likely to happen as the result of picking at the skin with implements such as needles or tweezers to get at hair roots or ingrown hairs. A hair shaft grows from the papilla, and as long as the papilla has not been seriously damaged or destroyed, hair will continue to grow.
In one of my online support groups, TrichWorld, a friend asked some questions about each of our experiences with trich to gather information for a report she is doing. I have posted my responses below and would love to hear your answers.
Questions:
What triggers you to pull?
How do you feel after you pull?
How long has it been since you’ve had a recovery period? (when I say recovery period, i mean when things are going great in life and you don’t necessarily have to focus on not pulling, it just sort of happens)
How old were you when you were aware of your condition (Trich) and are you able to attach the cause to something specific that happened in your life?
Do you exercise and still suffer with Trich?
Do you have any other ocd/addictions besides Trich (eating disorder, skin picking etc.)?
Why do you think you have this condition?
My Answers
What triggers you to pull?
stress, caffeine/sugar, mirrors, sedentary activities, driving…among many others-almost anything can make me start pulling
How do you feel after you pull?
I am conflicted as part of me feels better after pulling, but then there is the bigger part of me that screams-What did you just do!?!
How long has it been since you’ve had a recovery period? (when I say recovery period, i mean when things are going great in life and you don’t necessarily have to focus on not pulling, it just sort of happens)
It has been a long time about 15 years since I was fully pull free for any significant amount of time. I was in fifth grade and did not pull for most of the school year. I thought I was better and then started again while reading a book for class-I would have skipped the homework if I had known…
How old were you when you were aware of your condition (Trich) and are you able to attach the cause to something specific that happened in your life?
I was 6 years old when I began pulling. There was no major event that caused me to start pulling. I did however suffer recurrent episodes of strep throat and think that P.A.N.D.A.S plays a role in the onset of my trich.(For more info see the research page)
Do you exercise and still suffer with Trich?
I do, the amount I exercise has fluctuated over the years. Even with daily vigorous exercise I did not notice a decrease in my pulling.
Do you have any other ocd/addictions besides Trich (eating disorder, skin picking etc.)?
I have some minor OCD tendencies and am also a recovering alcoholic. I have been sober for 4 years. Although working the12 step program has been hard, it is nothing compared my struggle to stop pulling. I also have depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Why do you think you have this condition?
Trich has helped shape me into the person I am. I have battled through depression, addiction, and low self-esteem, which have all made me stronger. I have learned to focus on a person’s character rather than their appearance. In addition, I feel I can relate to others with similar struggles. Although it may not be hair pulling, people feel isolated and hopeless for many reasons.