9 year old's eyelashes falling out

[pm66]

Hi everyone. My son's eyelashes are disappearing on left eye, and seem thinner on right. The doc has no explanation. He has full thick head of hair. Anyone experienced similar?

[KellyMarieTunstall]

Could he be pulling them out himself?
A family member at the same age pulled sections of her hair out and never let on until years later. Seems she thought the hair follicle on an accidentally pulled out hair looked like a nit to her so pulled some more -and more and more until there were bald spots . Her mum thought she had some weird disease .

Luckily she grew out of it

[pm66]

v possible, he is v insular and we went through divorce last yr. thnx

[Devora]

I knew a young girl who did this - it's called trichollosomething and needs careful intervention. I'm surprised your doctor didn't know about this.

I really hope your boy feels better soon.

[2kidsintow]

I'd suggest the same. A boy in my class a couple of years ago went through a phase of playing with, then pulling out first his eyelashes, then his eyebrows.

I'd keep a careful eye on what he is doing, especially in times he might feel stressful. Also in times that he is most relaxed as that is where some children display self-comforting techniques that they are possibly unaware they do. My sister for example, sucked her thumb and twiddled with her hair, but only when watching TV late at night when she was really relaxed.

[Piemother]

Trichotillomania (sic) is what it's called. It's an anxiety related condition.
Luckily there is more understanding of it lately and there was even a doc lately about treatments.
Op have a google.

[Tiny12]

My DD had Trichotillomania few years back, well actually don't think it ever goes, she just has managed to control and deal with it now. She pulled hair from her head and not from her eyelashes. After months of fighting for her to get someone professional to speak to her my doc referred her.
If I were you I would keep a close eye on him, its not really one of those things that just goes away, if it is Trich I mean cos maybe it's not.