TLDR N-acetylcysteine effectively treats trichotillomania.
Trichotillomania, a behavioral disorder characterized by hair-pulling leading to alopecia, affected 1% of adults and 2-4.4% of psychiatric patients, with higher prevalence in adolescents and females. The condition often involved the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate modulating agent, showed promise as a treatment by reducing oxidative stress and normalizing glutaminergic transmission. The paper reported a case where trichotillomania responded excellently to N-acetylcysteine treatment.
16 citations
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January 2015 in “Annals of Dermatology” The study found specific hair and scalp patterns for different types of hair loss in Koreans, noting racial differences affect diagnosis.
Topical treatments like minoxidil and corticosteroids are effective for hair loss, with JAK inhibitors promising for alopecia areata.
3 citations
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May 2024 in “Amino Acids” Disrupted cysteine metabolism may cause hair breakage in Alopecia Areata, suggesting potential treatments like N-acetylcysteine.
1 citations
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September 2025 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Behavioral interventions, especially habit reversal training, are most effective for treating trichotillomania in children.
38 citations
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April 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Many skin patients have mental health issues, but few dermatologists are well-versed in treating these conditions.
14 citations
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February 2017 in “Anais brasileiros de dermatologia/Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” Trichotillomania is often misdiagnosed as alopecia areata and can be treated effectively with N-acetylcysteine and psychotropic drugs.
