Jumping In Puddles Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 About a month ago, I noticed my 6 yo dd had a missing chunk of eyelashes and I told her to stop plucking them. A week later, I noticed more missing so I asked her why she was still doing it and she whispered "wishes". :001_huh: I explained to her that wishes on plucked lashes don't come true. Today, I noticed she has almost no lashes on either eye and I asked why. She whispered that she likes to see the speck on the end of the lashes :confused: She would only whisper to me it seems she was embarrassed or she thought she was in trouble. Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Oh no.......... no advice but I homeschooled a girl that refused to go back to public school for a while that did this. It was stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhg Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Look up trichotillomania aka hair-pulling disorder. This can become a serious disorder. See if this sounds like her, esp if she keeps it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 This is an OCD disorder and pretty difficult to treat. Best to get her in and treated before it becomes a habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Does she also pull out her hair? I agree that it might be trichotillomania, an anxiety disorder. For now, you can give her a cool and sturdy necklace (maybe one with beads) and try to redirect any pulling lashes to feeling the necklace. It does sound like an evaluation by a professional might be warranted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katia Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 This is a serious OCD disorder? Really? Anxiety? Stress? I started doing this when I was about.....oh......12 years old. Maybe 10yo. I just liked the way it felt and I also liked the way the ends of the lashes looked....and how they felt. I still have eye-lashes. They grow in very nicely. But if I wear mascara I still find myself pulling them out and I have to mentally talk myself out of it so that I still have lashes, LOL. I almost usually have a spot with none, but I find if I don't wear mascara I pull them less and less. So....now I find I have OCD, anxiety and stress. Sigh. Well, I've suspected the OCD for several years now; I know I have social anxieties and my current blood pressure readings point to stress (I didn't realize I was stressed; I don't *feel that way). My mom never looked for treatment for me. She told me if I pulled my eye-lashes out again she'd spank me so hard I wouldn't be able to sit down...and I believed her, so I stopped (mostly) for a long time. Treatment now vs treatment 40 years ago is vastly different. You never know what you'll learn about yourself by reading these threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 This is a serious OCD disorder? Really? Anxiety? Stress? I started doing this when I was about.....oh......12 years old. Maybe 10yo. I just liked the way it felt and I also liked the way the ends of the lashes looked....and how they felt. I still have eye-lashes. They grow in very nicely. But if I wear mascara I still find myself pulling them out and I have to mentally talk myself out of it so that I still have lashes, LOL. I almost usually have a spot with none, but I find if I don't wear mascara I pull them less and less. So....now I find I have OCD, anxiety and stress. Sigh. Well, I've suspected the OCD for several years now; I know I have social anxieties and my current blood pressure readings point to stress (I didn't realize I was stressed; I don't *feel that way). My mom never looked for treatment for me. She told me if I pulled my eye-lashes out again she'd spank me so hard I wouldn't be able to sit down...and I believed her, so I stopped (mostly) for a long time. Treatment now vs treatment 40 years ago is vastly different. You never know what you'll learn about yourself by reading these threads. Katia, bless your heart, I love your post. I can say :iagree: to almost all you wrote. Who knew I was OCD??!! I will say that I don't think I ever did it as early as 6, nor to the point where I didn't have any lashes at all (just gaps), but the way the little girl answered her momma, it sure doesn't sound like stress/OCD to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 My daughter doesn't pull eyelashes, but she does other self harming stuff at times. It's stress; nothing that extra cuddles and perhaps a night or two of co-sleeping with me doesn't cure. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 Thank you all for your responses. It is possible she just likes the look and feel of the lashes but I do wonder if it is stress or OCD. I have thought about taking her to the doctor for it, but I do t want her to be more anxious over this. I guess I'll call the pediatrician and ask if they want to see her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Thank you all for your responses. It is possible she just likes the look and feel of the lashes but I do wonder if it is stress or OCD. I have thought about taking her to the doctor for it, but I do t want her to be more anxious over this. I guess I'll call the pediatrician and ask if they want to see her. My dd used to pick at her skin until there were very large sores all over her legs. Honestly, they looked like cigarette burns. To this day she has scars on her legs as if she had a severe case of impetigo. I took her in and at first they thought that maybe it was just anxiety. Then after a while they realized that it was a complusion because she was unable to stop on her own. That is what usually differentiates it from anxiety. In the case of hair pulling, most people are unable to stop on their own which classifies it as a complusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 That is what usually differentiates it from anxiety. In the case of hair pulling, most people are unable to stop on their own which classifies it as a complusion. Thank you for explaining, that makes sense now. Was your daughter able to be grated and cured? Thanks for sharing :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeFe Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Someone in my family does this. I've known for years that she's worn a wig and had no eyelashes. I only found out recently that it's because she pulls out her hair. For her, it's stress related. I know a boy who did it too. For him I think it was more OCD related. While I don't think it can cause any harm to her, I know both of the people I know suffer a bit socially because of it. People can be so mean and judgmental. I would talk to her doctor. He may have some ideas on how to divert her away from doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Somtimes kids just do strange things. They grow out of them. When DD3 was 2, she'd pick her lips. She's pick and pick and pick until they were bleeding. She did this often. Her lips looked horrible. And then she just stopped one day. A friend's 12 year old DD did the eyelash picking thing. She kept plucking them all out. And then one day she just stopped. Kids are strange LOL. It could be OCD, it could just be a thing she's going through. I'd wait and see if she just stops on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 To the OP - you can't really make a child more anxious by ignoring the anxiety. Going to the doctor might cause a bit of anxiety/embarrassment, but that is the "lesser evil" of ignoring it. I have the impression that you have asked her to stop and she has not, but I could be wrong. If this is the case, she needs outside help. Caught early, anxiety disorders are treated fairly easily. Left alone, they tend to grow. I had some anxiety as a child and some tics as a result. I don't have tics now. I did retain anxiety until I got into therapy as an adult. It wouldn't have occurred to my parents that I needed any intervention as a child - those were the "times" we were living in 35 years ago. (Yep, I'm old.:tongue_smilie:) Obviously everyone's situation is different. Everyone's child is different. You know your child. If you think this is anxiety-related, then it probably is. Young children often carry many, many things inside their hearts and minds that would surprise us. (As a therapist who has worked mostly with kids, I could go on and on with stories.) Even my own children pop up with things that surprise me. This may or may not be your daughter, but that has been my experience, both with my own kids and with my therapy clients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 Does she also pull out her hair? I agree that it might be trichotillomania, an anxiety disorder. For now, you can give her a cool and sturdy necklace (maybe one with beads) and try to redirect any pulling lashes to feeling the necklace. It does sound like an evaluation by a professional might be warranted. As far as I know, she does not pull out her hair. The necklace is a great idea! Maybe I can redirect to use that. I called the pediatrician and he has not returned my call yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Thank you for explaining, that makes sense now. Was your daughter able to be grated and cured? Thanks for sharing :grouphug: Yes, a small dose of Zoloft brought it under control and she doesn't do that anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 It could possibly be a medical issue also. I was doing this for a bit when I was 6-7yo and it turns out I had some kind of skin disorder (I can't remember if it was fungal or eczema since I've had both so many times) with my eye lashes. Untreated, the eyelashes get really itchy and it almost feels better when they are GONE. I went to a dermatologist who prescribed a regimen of washing and creams. It took a while but it stopped driving me crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in Jax Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Is she on any vitamins? If not, consider seeing if some additional zinc can help. Zinc can help with OCD-like symptoms (especially if they're mild), as well as with stress. Other ideas: Magnesium, Essential Fatty Acids, and probiotics. These won't help with eyelash pulling specifically, but might help decrease anxiety and stress. HIH, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 (edited) There was a study with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which is safe, no side effects, and available without a prescription being an effective treatment for trichotillomania in a significant number of people in a double blind study and they did a successful pediatric trial following that one if I remember correctly. TIf it were my child I would start with cognitive behavioral therapy with a therapist with experience in this CBT for this issues. If that wasn't enough I'd do NAC believe. If it's related to OCD it will only get worse without treatment. And the earlier you intervene with these types of issues the better the outcomes. Edited August 13, 2010 by sbgrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 Is she on any vitamins? If not, consider seeing if some additional zinc can help. Zinc can help with OCD-like symptoms (especially if they're mild), as well as with stress. Other ideas: Magnesium, Essential Fatty Acids, and probiotics. These won't help with eyelash pulling specifically, but might help decrease anxiety and stress. HIH, Lisa Good idea! She is not taking vitamins at the moment and that is an easy thing to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookfiend Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Remember these all sound like the worst case outcomes. I believe people post so you can be aware of disorders and diseases that aren't quickly identified. However, think about your child. Does she quickly pick up other habits? I have one who will just start doing weird things, twirling hair, making popping noises with his tounge, thrumming fingers, sucking hickeys on his arm, ... the list goes on. Yes, plucking eyelashes and eyebrows came up around 5 or 6. Some new bad habit tries to creep in about three times a year. If we catch it in the first few days, remind him to stop _________, EVERYTIME; the behavior curbs and ends. If we don't stay vigilent early, the habit is harder to erradicate. Personally, I think it is excess boy energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 I started this at about the same time. I also pulled out my eyebrow hairs and sometimes ended up rather bald and disheveled looking..... I didn't realize that OCD issues run in my family (who never talked about such things, even though I think they had been made aware of this diagnosis) until my own younger son began displaying OCD type behaviors. My sister and I then got together and figured out what was occurring.... At first, I didn't realize that I had OCD type behaviors, too, LOL! It took a while for me to be able to see these things in myself.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-mex Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Look up trichotillomania aka hair-pulling disorder. This can become a serious disorder. See if this sounds like her, esp if she keeps it up. :iagree: Related to OCD. Very difficult to get it under control even with CBT and meds. Anything stress related may trigger the hair pulling. Hang in there. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-mex Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 (edited) My dd used to pick at her skin until there were very large sores all over her legs. Honestly, they looked like cigarette burns. To this day she has scars on her legs as if she had a severe case of impetigo. I took her in and at first they thought that maybe it was just anxiety. Then after a while they realized that it was a complusion because she was unable to stop on her own. That is what usually differentiates it from anxiety. In the case of hair pulling, most people are unable to stop on their own which classifies it as a complusion. Dermotillomania is the official term. Related to OCD also. I wage my own battle on this. Not so much anxiety, but deep internal issues that stay "bottled" up. It is a classic case of obsessive behavior that spirals out of control. There is guilt and shame involved -- which makes it a vicious cycle. Cutting and self-mutilation are similarly related. Nowadays, specialists think it should be its own disorder separate from OCD. New term for this group is called BDD -- Body Dysmorphic Disorder. For myself, it began as a young child also. HTH -- no meaning to scare the OP. But most pediatricians are trained to recognize signs of OCD and possibly BDD. You will need to see a psychiatrist (trained in BDD/CBT) for an official dx and meds. Edited August 13, 2010 by tex-mex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommytobees Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 About a month ago, I noticed my 6 yo dd had a missing chunk of eyelashes and I told her to stop plucking them. A week later, I noticed more missing so I asked her why she was still doing it and she whispered "wishes". :001_huh:I explained to her that wishes on plucked lashes don't come true. Today, I noticed she has almost no lashes on either eye and I asked why. She whispered that she likes to see the speck on the end of the lashes :confused: She would only whisper to me it seems she was embarrassed or she thought she was in trouble. Any advice? I agree with most of the others that this is probably just a compulsion, BUT, I wanted to mention this as well. You might want to ask her if her eyelashes "itch". For years and years my eyelashes (really the skin where the root is located) would itch. They would drive me nuts. Many doctors just told me that I had a "problem" and that it was OCD/ anxiety/ mental :glare:. Fast forward many years and a NP I was seeing for all of my regular care noticed I was rubbing my eyelid where my eyelashes are located. She took a close look and after making sure I didn't have bugs :001_huh::001_huh::001_huh: on my eyelashes she figured out that I had a weird reaction to seasonal allergies. Occasionally my eyelids swell as well, but not often. So now, whenever my eyelashes "itch", I up my OTC allergy meds and it goes away. There _are_ medical reasons for picking at your eyelashes. Oh, and I also wanted to mention.... my eyelids do not itch AT ALL if I just pull my eyelashes out. ETA: Forgot to mention... this is called blepharitis. It is very common and can be caused by more than just seasonal allergies. It can have other symptoms or very little symptoms, like for me. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 So now, whenever my eyelashes "itch", I up my OTC allergy meds and it goes away. There _are_ medical reasons for picking at your eyelashes. Oh, and I also wanted to mention.... my eyelids do not itch AT ALL if I just pull my eyelashes out. ETA: Forgot to mention... this is called blepharitis. It is very common and can be caused by more than just seasonal allergies. It can have other symptoms or very little symptoms, like for me. Kris Yes! This was me. I have special prescription eye drops I use now. Funny. You are the first person I've ever known who has the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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