An Unusual Case of Trichotillomania and Trichophagia Associated with Authentic Hair Extension in a Young African-American Female Adult
December 2022
in “
Discover Psychology
”
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TLDR A young woman developed a bowel obstruction from eating hair from her weave to relieve anxiety.
This case study details a 23-year-old African-American female with trichotillomania and trichophagia, who developed a small bowel obstruction from ingesting hair from her weave. The patient used hair consumption to relieve anxiety, especially during pregnancy. Post-surgery, she showed no psychiatric abnormalities. The study emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive approaches in understanding and managing trichotillomania and trichophagia, particularly in African-American populations.