Incorrect article

A lady at work told me about this article, and when I heard about it, I just simply picked up the phone, and phoned our local newspaper, stating that I want to do an article.    Read it, and you'll see why.  This was published in June 1998 - in modern times, and doctors still give out the wrong information.

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Question:    She pulls out her hair

My three year old daughter has  a habit of playing with her hair, twirling it around her fingers and pulling it out.  I recently discovered a few bald patches under the top hair.  As it is, her hair is thin and I'm worried that it won't grow back.  She mostly pulls her hair out when she's tired, bored or in strange situations.  I've tried explaining to her that she's hurting her hair and given her substitutes like silk and dolls with hair to fiddle with, but she always goes back to her own hair.  I've heard this may be related to stress, but she's a well adjusted child who hasn't had many upsets in life.   I'm at my wit's end.

Answer:  Trichotillomania, or hair pulling, is a condition most often found in childhood.   In older children it may be a cause for concern as it could be because of an underlying emotional problem.  But in young children and toddlers it may be the result of a comfort action, much like sucking a thumb or a dummy, and when your child feels insecure or tired she comforts herself by twirling her hair.  Unfortunately this breaks and pulls out some of  the hair in the process, resulting in bald patches.  If you've tried substituting other comforters with no success, you may have to cut her hair short enough so that she cannot get a grip on it to twirl it around.  This may help to thicken and strengthen her hair as well.

Well.... you see why I was 'forced' to get out of the closet and tell the truth?