P10 TRICHOTEIROMANIA - A FIRST ASIAN CASE REPORT SKIN HAIR AND NAIL CLINIC CHENNAI INDIA
Murugusundram S
Skin Hair and Nail Clinic, Thyagaraja Complex, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai, India

Trichoteiromania is a disorder characterized by the chronic compulsion of rubbing one’s own hair. It has to be distinguished from Trichotillomania, which is pulling out one’s own hair. We present the first Asian case report. A 10-year-old school going boy presented with linear patches of hair loss over the frontal and parietal areas, of the scalp of one-year duration. The patches of Alopecia were about 6-8 cm in length and 1 cm in width. He denied pulling of hair but he admitted rubbing vigorously with the palmar surface of the index finger in to & fro motion, till the hairs were removed. He started rubbing his hair one year ago when he was joined in a private coaching center under a very strict teacher. He did not like his mother comparing him with his elder brother. On examination, broken shafts showed brush like ends. Histopathology revealed empty hair canals and pigmented casts. The boy was advised not to rub his hair and was started on selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. The mother was also given counselling. The case is being followed up. Trichoteiromania is a very rare impulse control disorder. It is distinctly different from Trichotillomania. Trichoteiromania is included in the group of mental disorders characterized by self-inflicted destruction of hair. Trichoteiromania should be considered in the differential diagnosis of non-scarring alopecia of the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and pubic hair.