Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group
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I have been taking birth control for many years, not only as "birth control" but also because when I haven't been on birth control i get very bad dandruff and acne on my forehead, as well as really bad cramps!
due to some random complications, I wasn't able to get my renewal for my prescription on time this month. So i'm going one month without being on BC which I have been taking for many years. It may just be a coincidence, but my pulling has gotten DRASTICALLY worse this month and I'm sorta curious if it might be because I'm not taking the BC at the moment.
Hairs that I have NEVER pulled since I started pulling 15 years ago (the outer corners of my brows and eyelashes) are now gone. I also NEVER pull in the daytime, always at night, and at around 3pm today I started pulling frantically.
Again, it might just be a coincidence, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any thoughts or experience with birth control and its relationship to hair pulling?
due to some random complications, I wasn't able to get my renewal for my prescription on time this month. So i'm going one month without being on BC which I have been taking for many years. It may just be a coincidence, but my pulling has gotten DRASTICALLY worse this month and I'm sorta curious if it might be because I'm not taking the BC at the moment.
Hairs that I have NEVER pulled since I started pulling 15 years ago (the outer corners of my brows and eyelashes) are now gone. I also NEVER pull in the daytime, always at night, and at around 3pm today I started pulling frantically.
Again, it might just be a coincidence, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any thoughts or experience with birth control and its relationship to hair pulling?
Im guessing because it's the oestrogen in the combined pill which would have been helping your acne. I have read a few studies that stated a possible link between low oestrogen levels and stress. It makes sense to me, considering men and post-menopausal women tend to be more susceptible on average to stress-related illnesses. It may be the sudden dip in oestrogen = a bit more stress = a better environment for pulling? I know personally that im more tempted to pull at some times of the month compared to others, haven't properly tracked it though.
It's the only reason i can think of for why being off BC made things worse for you pulling-wise...it could just be coincidence though!
It's important to remember too that the few weeks/months just after stopping a contraceptive pill are when your body is adapting to the hormone level change: if you stay off the pill your body's natural rhythm of hormones will kick in again of course. Just mentioning because a friend of mine broke out in horrendous acne for 2 months right after stopping, and panicked thinking the Pill was the only reason her skin looked ok normally. Disappeared after another month or two as her body adjusted though! :)
Every woman is different and i truly believe the slightest change in our bodies can set off pulling urges. I don't think it's necessarily the absence of the Pill that's causing you to pull, but I do think coming off or starting a new Pill can affect our bodies more drastically than we realise, until they get into the new swing of things.
I really hope you regain control over the pulling and im sorry to hear you're struggling more with it at the minute, remember that you can beat this! :)