Advice For My Little Sister

Hi all,

This is new for me, but I'm trying it out because I don't see a lot of easy access information out there on this particular topic.

My 11 year old little sister suffers from trichotillomania and has for a few years. This is not new to me, as I have suffered from it my whole life. With her, however, it intensified much quicker. I first got a bald spot when I was 16, her first was when she was 10. She is in therapy, and we work on a lot of coping/distraction skills with her.

What advice I am turning to you for is in helping her hide her bald spot. When I had my first one, it was in the back of my scalp and easier to hide, especially since I was older and knew how to do my hair. My little one has a big bald spot at the front of her scalp and it is difficult to hide. She is also a tomboy who runs around a lot, so hiding it with headbands doesn't always work, as they fall out. I have shown her one way to do her hair to hide it, but I would like advice on more. Considering her age, and also that she is both incredibly embarrassed by this and also very unaware of beauty skills. I love this girl more than anything, and want to help her. I am away at college, but want her to know how to do her hair on her own.

Any tips on easy ways to hide such a bald spot would be incredibly helpful! Please help if you can!

-Kaitypie

Hi,

I'm sorry that no-one has replied yet. I have been watching this for a number of days now but didn't want to reply because I have no knowledge of Trichotillomania. From what little I know of it, I can simply suggest that she tries really hard with the therapy. She isn't going to the therapist for fun; she's there because she has work to do in alleviating her Trichotillomania symptoms.


Kevin.

Thanks for that.

The problem is that she is on both medicinal and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the poor girl has been for 2 years. I just want to help her hide it, and I have no idea.

It's a very sensitive subject, and I doubt anyone will have hairstyling advice for an 11 year old sufferer of Trichotillomania, but I had to atleast throw it out there.

-Kaitypie

Hey, thanks for getting back.


I don't think the disorder is well-known. People would probably look at the name and think: "Oh my god!", and then run away. Is there anything that triggers the urge to do it or does it just happen for no apparent reason?


Kevin.

I have suffered with trichotillomania for a good 7 years and when I got my first bald spot on my center hairline (clearly visible), I wore my hair up in a ponytail with a big headband to try to cover it up....and this may be too extreme, but there are hairsalons that will put hair extensions in that particular problem spot if she is having a really hard time with this. I hope this helps!