THERE IS A SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR THIS ILLNESS! I would like to start a thread collecting articles related to this rare disorder.

There is little research out there on this particular diagnosis, however, it IS a very real and serious disorder. Here is an excerpt from the American Journal of Dermatology :

A 28-year-old woman presented with a completely hairless scalp. The disorder had started 1 year ago, and at the same time she had developed dysphonia. During the past year, her hair disease had been diagnosed as alopecia areata totalis by many specialists, including several dermatologists. A close inspection of her scalp, however, revealed that no alopecia was present, because all infundibula were filled with a hair shaft that, on microscopic examination, showed cleanly cut surfaces. A scalp biopsy specimen showed completely normal structures. The pubic area was found to be covered with hair stubs of the same length. Therefore, a diagnosis of trichotemnomania was made. This term is derived from Greek thrix (hair), temnein (to cut), and mania (madness).


I just wanted to share this article with fellow sufferers of this frustrating habit. We are not alone. There has been little research done on trichotemnomania but it is common enough to have earned a name. I am going to continue to try to find more articles related to the subject. And if anyone else finds anything please add to this thread.

Shanban

This is certainly not a rare disorder, however sufferers may well feel very much alone and secretative about their compulsions.

I never cut the hairs on my head, but every inch of my body below my eyebrows is completely shaved. Some days I have to take two showers a day because I need one for bathing and one for shaving. =/
Though the reason I shave is because otherwise I will just pull out my hairs. Shaving them all off just seems like a better alternative.

So, you shave the body hair because you would otherwise pull them out? is it just the physical appearance or is it the feeling of the hair on your body bothers you? or is it an anxiety related compulsion? i was just curious. if you don't mind.....

Well, I would pull them out anyway. I dislike the appearance and it is anxiety related. But really it could be something like the appearance of the hair gives me anxiety (much in a Body Dysmorphic Disorder sort of thing) and thus I shave it all off compulsively.

I have never actually cut my hair but OMG have I ever felt compelled to just wack it all off before! I haven't surendered to the compulsion but I can sure feel for anyone who has! It would be sooooooo easy for me to do this!!