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Trichotillomania

 

Trichotillomania is a compulsive behavior characterized by the urge to pull out one’s hair. Symptoms of the disorder usually start at around 13 or 14 and can grow more severe as an individual moves into adulthood. The condition is the number one cause of hair loss in children and be a cause of recurring stress in adults.

 

Symptoms of Trichotillomania

 

Individuals with trichotillomania experience an irresistible urge to pluck out the hair on the bodies, including the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Often an individual focuses on one area of the body or a specific type of hair. Trichotillomania can result in:

 

  • Extreme hair loss and bald patches on the scalp
  • Lack of eyelashes
  • Thin eyebrows

 

Hair loss due to trichotillomania can be devastating, affecting self-confidence and an individual’s social life.

 

Causes of Trichotillomania

 

Attributed to a combination of factors, trichotillomania is a complex disorder that cannot be explained by a single cause. Although the condition is not linked to a single cause, there are some theories about why people have the compulsion to pull out their hair.  Some risk factors include:

 

  • Neurological abnormalities. In some cases, people diagnosed with trichotillomania have had shown abnormalities in brain scans.
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Trichotillomania may involve a chemical imbalance in the brain, similar to that seen in those with OCD.
  • Stress and anxiety. Hair pulling may be a response to stressful situations.
  • Hormone levels. Because the condition typically arises in the early teens, some experts think that hormones may play a role.
  • Family History. Behavioral disorders like OCD often have a genetic link and tend to run in families.
  • Environmental factors. Outside influences, such as trauma, can exacerbate the problem.

 

Trichotillomania Treatments with Dr. Yael Halaas, New York

 

If you suffer from trichotillomania, it is important to reach out and get the support you need. There are cosmetic and surgical procedures can be performed to stimulate hair regrowth to fill in bald patches and restore lashes and brows.  Dr. Yael Halaas, a hair restoration specialist, offers cutting-edge treatments, such as hair and eyebrow transplants. Contact her Manhattan office to schedule a consultation.

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COVID-19 Safety Measures

We understand that there may be times when you miss an appointment due to emergencies or obligations for work and family.

However, due to Covid 19. and the current CDC guidelines, we are implementing a new ” no exceptions” cancellation/no show/rescheduling policy effective September 1, 2020.

If any appointment is cancelled or RESCHEDULED less than 24 hours in advance you will be charged a fee of $100. This policy will be in place until further notice and applies to new AND existing clients We apologize for any inconvenience but look forward to getting through this difficult time together.

At Dr. Halaas office, we take our staff’s and patients’ health very seriously. We are implementing safety measures to ensure everyone who comes through our doors will experience the highest level of care and the lowest risk levels.

Safety of our Employees

Each day we are taking our employees temperatures and going over a questionnaire to make sure we are all in the best of health. If anyone has a temperature over 100.4, or has fever, sore throat, chills, loss of taste, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pains, or headache, they will be asked to leave and go see their primary care doctor, or go get tested.

If an employee has been in contact with someone with Covid, we will ask them to get themselves tested, or they will have to quarantine themselves for two weeks.

We have installed a sneeze guard at our front counter for the safety of both our employees and our patients.

Safety of our Patients

Patients must sign up for our patient portal before coming to their appointment

  • Information to get into the portal will be emailed immediately after making an appointment
  • Information to be completed will be medical history as well as a Covid questionnaire
  • Covid questionnaire must be completed for EVERY visit patient makes until further notice
  • We also have a patient app, MyPatientVisit, that we can communicate with the patient when we are ready to see them

All patients must wear masks to their appointment.

We ask patients to come to their appointment alone. Minors may be accompanied by an adult.

Temperature will be taken at the door.

  • If they have a temperature over 100.4 they will be rescheduled and asked to go see their primary care doctor

Once patient has been cleared, we will escort them to their suite where they will be treated.
We have removed water and snacks from our waiting area, as well as all pamphlets regarding services.

Each room will be thoroughly disinfected in between patients
We encourage telehealth consults beforehand, so we can make a plan for when patients do come into office.

Written by Dr. Halaas

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