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Chels45 , 06 Oct 2017

Scalp picking and hair loss

I’ve been picking for 11 or 12 years. It was less harmul picking (cuticles and the occasional scab) until a traumatic event I experienced almost 5 years ago. This event resulted in my traumatic brain injury. Ever since then I have not been able to stop picking my scalp. My hands are almost always on my scalp; driving, in class, doing anything. People notice and ask why I’m “always touching my hair.” I pick other places but this is the most humiliating for me. I havent gotten my hair done in years because I’m too embarrassed. I’ve lost a lot of hair. It’s noticeable my hair is very thin. I also have bald spots. I’ve tried to tell myself to pick ANYTHING else just do not pick your scalp, because I have very little hair now. My question is, does the hair grow back? I know hair doesn’t usually grow back over scar tissue, I’m basically just hoping someone has a personal story to prove otherwise?

2 Answers
serene
October 06, 2017

Do you suffer with PTSD? Because obsessions such as skin picking tend to be maladaptive coping strategies. You need to heal from within in order to get a better grip on such behavior. As for hair not growing fom scars....it's impossible for hair to regrow once you deeply damage the root at it's base. Deep picking will usually permanently eliminate hair roots along with the skin's melanin production...that's why scars appear white. You need to heal the effects of the trauma in order to get better. Are you seeing a therapist?

username95
November 17, 2017

I have the same problem but I felt like I was the only one for years. I don’t recall mine starting after any particular trauma. I just remember a kid in my 7th grade class looking at me, scratching his head and laughing. I’m 22 now and picking my scalp feels like the most embarrassing thing in the world. I always wear my hair up to hide the red wounds and also haven’t had my hair done in years. Fortunately I have thick hair so my hair has grown back in some places but it comes back extremely coarse and curly and takes forever. In other places there is a small bald spot if it has scarred over. Hopefully that helps you feel less alone and gives you some hope that maybe your hair will come back soon!

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