Forgive me if any of the following sounds kind of disgusting. This is, after all, "afraid to ask" and I have no other place to ask..I am a 16 year old male. I am kind of a Trichotillomaniac which means that every once in a while I begin these bad habits which grow to very embarrassing and scary things. For instance, several years ago I started pulling my hair out (literally pulling out much of the hair all over my head) and when I finally got a hair cut it was very embarrassing because everyone at school could see exactly where i had giant bald spots and stuff. Anyways, recently I have been constantly searching around my scalp when I am stressed/bored and I find bumps. I apply pressure like a normal zit and sometimes they pop. Often they are very painful though but I do it out of habit. I have a lot of little sores and bumps all over my head on my scalp right now -- none are noticeable but I can feel it all. Is this harmful? I'm wondering if it is any more harmful than popping a regular zit on my face? Also, any suggestions on how to condition myself to stop doing it?Thanks
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Popping Zits on Head
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So you have an obsessive-compulsive disorder? Are you under any type of care for it, like psychologist or psychiatrist?You may be getting bumps as a side effect of chronically pulling on and pulling out your hair. It sounds like the bumps are infected if stuff comes out when you squeeze them. If you keep doing that, you will get scars. Plus infected skin on your scalp is not a great thing to have.
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Trichotillomania responds well to SSRI antidepressants, I believe - it seems to be a type of OCD.Probably what you have done to your head isn't life threatening, but it could leave scars.
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See? Great minds think alike.SSRI (for example, Paxil) can be effective against OCDs, but a psychiatrist would be in the best position to evaluate your specific situation. Your age might play a part in what approach he or she takes.
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No, I have not seen anybody for help with this. I hadn't thought about the scars it might leave on my scalp. I will make an honest effort to stop doing this bad habit just by being aware of it and hope that it doesn't get out of hand.Thanks
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By the way I stopped pulling my hair out right when that incident happened a long time ago...I am afraid to pull a single hair out now...However I have also recently been twirling and pulling out hair on my legs (doesnt that sound strange?) But it really isn't anything serious and I could use a little less leg hair anyway. I think that habit will pass soon.
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You have OCDs that just change form over time. You will have a happier life if you get professional treatment for it. OCDs are not rare at all, but they are treatable.