Daughter pulling out eyelashes

[mimielliemummyoftwo]

Hey, not really sure what board to put this in as I'm new but just really need some help here.

My daughter's 14 and has this habit where she pulls out her eyelashes. She does it in the morning because she says that's when they're easiest to pull out but sometimes it works throughout the day too. Depending on how easy they come out the amount of eyelashes ranges from 5-30ish??? It's so weird, I've asked her why she does it and she doesn't know herself just likes seeing them on her hands or some weird thing and she says she finds it satisfying especially when she pulls multiple out at once.

I'm just really concerned as to whether this may affect her in any way?? Or whether I just let her keep going it?? She also constantly pulls her eyelids by tugging her eyelashes as she likes the squeaky noise it makes due to the air escaping and I don't think that's as harmful but I just don't know.

Do I need to consult a doctor as to why she's doing this?? She's generally a happy kid, does well at school, has friends etc. but she does have a few issues mentally with possible OCD and Autism but we haven't done much to get this diagnosed as we aren't sure and it doesn't seem to affect her a ton with daily life. And I don't know if it is Trichotillomania because it is mostly her eyelashes and then very rarely her eyebrows. She never does it to her actual hair because it hurts and she doesn't feel the need to.

Sorry if this is too long, just really need some help.

[abyssofwoah]

I do this. I go through phases of doing it more or less. I’m not sure at what point it crosses the boundary into trichotillomania but I’m not an especially anxious person and I’ve never pulled them all out so I’ve never really considered it a problem particularly.

[TedLasto]

I have trichotillomania and it started with pulling my eyelashes out aged 12. Progressed to hair later. I have only recently come to realise I am
probably autistic (following daughters diagnosis) and it is a form of stimming. I have had CBT for the trich (via the GP) a couple of times and it has not worked. This makes sense now as apparently CBT doesn’t really work for autistic people. Anyway, I still do it so I’m not sure what the answer is, but I’d see the GP as earlier intervention may have helped. I didn’t go until it was very well established.

[Foxesandsquirrels]

My DD 14 does this but with eyebrows. For her it's a form of self harm, nothing to do with autism. She's having general therapy. CBT tends to help.

[KnickerlessParsons]

I do it too. It's very satisfying.

[Heartofglass12345]

I do this, I like to rub the roots on my lip and sometimes eat them too, apparently that's quite common. I don't know why I do it, I do think it's triggered by stress/ anxiety for me and I started doing it around 20 years ago during a traumatic time.
Whether it's just a habit or OCD I'm not sure.

[Geppili]

Trichotillomania. I have it. Started after a very frightening and traumatic experience aged 7. I eat them too. I pulled and ate my eyelashes, then brows, then head hair and body hair when it came.

[Ashuwini]

Hello ,
Read through the responses. My 9 yr old daughter is autistic and has recently started pulling out her eyelashes. She never did that till now. Her whole upper eyelid lashes are gone. She is facing some bullying at school . I have asked the school to look into the matter. I do not know if its tricotillomania or stress. Do you think going through GP will help? Or i seek therapy privately? What has actually worked in this regard? Please share any further experiences.
Thanks

[ProcrastinationCentral]

I also used to suffer from trichotillomania, starting with my eyelashes, then eyebrows, then head hair and body hair. When I say I used to, I can lapse in to doing it now if I'm tired or anxious but I'm not as affected by it as it used to be. I'd go in to a trance like state when I was doing it.

When my mum noticed a bald patch one day she went spare. She was shouting and crying and wouldn't let me leave my room till I told her who had 'done it to me'- she wouldn't believe I'd done it to myself. I think I was eight or nine. That's a really traumatic memory. My dad was much calmer, asking me why I did it, pulling a hair of his own and discussing how that felt. My advice would be to do the same, talk to her and make sure it doesn't turn in to a dark secret.

[Ashuwini]

Thank you for your reply! My husband is the one who she talks freely to. Exactly like you talked to your dad.