Hair pulling made me ashamed, says Oxford professor

There is no one solution for everyone but meeting people living with the condition is a major part of the new research programme.

Bea, 12, started pulling out her eyelashes when she was seven – and three years later, began pulling out her hair.

“I had no control over it, I wasn’t sure what was happening,” she told the BBC.

Her mother Josie said the situation had become “worrying” and as a parent “you want to make things better and I didn’t know how to.”

She said doctors had initially been dismissive until one “said the word trichotillomania for the first time”.

“We had dark days,” said Josie, adding that she searched the internet before coming across charity BFRB UK.

Through the charity, they found therapy for Bea, while Josie joined a parent support group.

Bea now has a full head of hair and is in a better place, her mum said.