Coping With the Fear of Hair, aka Trichophobia

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses, Triggers, & Risk FactorsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsPrognosis & PreventionCoping Tips

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes, Triggers, & Risk Factors

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Complications

Prognosis & Prevention

Coping Tips

Do you get creeped out or stressed when you find loose hair that has fallen on your shirt or chair? If so, you might have what is known astrichophobia, which is an excessive and persistent fear of hair. This can include fear of hair on the head, but it often involves touching or seeing loose hairs that have fallen on to clothing, the body, furniture, or another surface. A brush covered in loose hairs, for example, might trigger feelings of fear and anxiety.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 12.5% of adults in the United States will have a specific phobia at some point in their lives.

Specific Phobia DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

As with other specific phobias, the exact causes of trichophobia are not entirely understood, although it is believed that several factors may play a role.

Fear of disease or contamination may contribute to the condition, particularly if the focus of the fear is the sensation or sight of loose hair on the skin. The belief that hair is a contaminant may cause people to become fearful of seeing loose hair. People may even clean obsessively in order to remove any loose hair that has fallen onto surfaces around the home.

Other risk factors that may contribute to the development of specific phobias such as trichophobia include:

Trichophobia Symptoms

The symptoms of trichophobia are different for each person and vary in terms of severity. As with other phobias, people experience both physical and emotional reactions in response to the source of their fears.

Physical symptoms of trichophobia include:

Emotional symptoms can include:

Based on the symptoms described above, you may be able to determine if you have trichophobia. If your symptoms are mild, you might feel like the condition is manageable. For more severe symptoms that are interfering with your ability to function normally in your daily life, it is important to talk to your doctor.

Trichophobia Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with trichophobia there are effective treatments that can help.

Exposure therapies, includingsystematic desensitization, are the first-line treatments for specific phobias. This approach involves being gradually and repeatedly exposed to the source of your fear while also practicing relaxation strategies to help manage the anxiety response.

Next, you might move on to a photograph of loose hair before progressively working up to actually seeing loose hair or actually having it on your skin or clothing. Over time, pairing the relaxation response with the source of your fear can help you learn to manage your anxiety whenever you encounter the feared object.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)may also be helpful to address the underlying thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can contribute to phobic reactions.

While medications are not usually indicated in the treatment of specific phobias, they may sometimes be used in conjunction with behavioral treatments to manage some of the symptoms of anxiety.

Like other specific phobias, trichophobia can have a significant impact on an individual’s daily life. Some of the potential complications that a person might face as a result of their condition include:

Exposure therapy has been empirically validated as an effective treatment for specific phobias such as trichophobia. Research has shown that 90% of people who receive exposure therapy treatment experience significant reductions in fear and avoidance and 65% no longer have a specific phobia post-treatment.

If you have symptoms of trichophobia, there are things that you can do to cope with your fears and manage your anxieties.

Learn relaxation techniques.Using some of the same strategies that are utilized in exposure therapies may be helpful. Explore methods like visualization, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. When you feel yourself experiencing symptoms of anxiety in response to the sight of hair, use the techniques you have been practicing to relax your body and mind.

Take care of yourself.Sticking to healthy routines like getting enough sleep, eating well, and getting regular physical activity is important for overall well-being. When you feel well, you will likely be better able to manage your anxiety effectively.

If the symptoms of trichophobia are seriously impacting your life and making it difficult for you to function normally, it is important to seek professional help. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional about what you are feeling. Together, you can work on a treatment plan that will get you back on track.

Trichophobia can cause symptoms that can significantly affect many different aspects of your life, including your ability to work, attend school, and maintain relationships. Fortunately, effective treatments can reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of this condition.

You can also call the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) at 1-800-950-6264 for further resources and referrals to mental health professionals in your area.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Koo J, Lebwohl A.Psychodermatology: the mind and skin connection.American Family Physician. 2001;64(11):1873-1879.Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375–2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XKaplan JS, Tolin, DF.Exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.Psychiatric Times. 2011;28(9).Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Koo J, Lebwohl A.Psychodermatology: the mind and skin connection.American Family Physician. 2001;64(11):1873-1879.Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375–2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XKaplan JS, Tolin, DF.Exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.Psychiatric Times. 2011;28(9).Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Koo J, Lebwohl A.Psychodermatology: the mind and skin connection.American Family Physician. 2001;64(11):1873-1879.Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375–2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XKaplan JS, Tolin, DF.Exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.Psychiatric Times. 2011;28(9).

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.

Koo J, Lebwohl A.Psychodermatology: the mind and skin connection.American Family Physician. 2001;64(11):1873-1879.

Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375–2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

Kaplan JS, Tolin, DF.Exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.Psychiatric Times. 2011;28(9).

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?