Thousands of women in the UK are fighting the urge to pull out their hair
Thousands of women in the UK suffer from Trichotillomania (TTM), the hair pulling disorder, according to information released by hair loss expert Lucinda Elleryas part of International No Pulling Week
• Doctor Jon Grant’s research reveals 100 million people worldwide have TTM
• Women in high‐powered jobs are most likely to suffer from the secret condition
• Hair loss expert Lucinda Ellery, says: “Through education we can help millions more women across the world become ‘pull‐free’”
It is staggering that thousands of women in the UK suffer from Trichotillomania (TTM), the hair pulling disorder, according to hair loss specialist, Lucinda Ellery, who is raising awareness of International No Pulling Week (October 1-‐7).
TTM Fact Box
110 million people suffer from TTM worldwide according to statistics from studies by Doctor Jon Grant
840,000 women in the UK suffer from TTM
Less than 10% of women seek treatment
% of TTM sufferers that pull hair (80%), eyelashes (47%), eyebrows (44%), other (24%) ‐ 50% report pulling is worse
The average woman who is likely to experience this condition starts around the age of puberty, and the condition is considered to be connected with those who are highly intelligent, sensitive and working in high-‐powered, pressurised jobs, according to Lucinda Ellery, the UK’s leading expert on Trichotillomania.
TTM is a neurobiological condition that causes overwhelming urges to pull out your own hair and often serves as a mechanism for dealing with stress and anxiety.
TTM is a rarely discussed impulsive disorder, despite the fact it is more common than bulimia, and can take many forms including eyelash pulling, skin picking and nail biting. They are all linked as part of the human condition.
Lucinda, who for the past 30 years has been pioneering hair loss solutions forsufferers, describes TTM as something that’s used for ‘self-‐calming’ as many women are sometimes not aware they are pulling.
The condition can easily escalate, leading to devastating effects and extensive emotional and social consequences for the individual. Some women will pull out so much of their hair it leaves bald patches the size of their fists or more. A whole head of hair can be extracted within five hours.
TTM affects around eight times as many women as men and estimates suggest that 2% of the world’s population may at some time suffer from this condition. Incredibly, only 10% of women will seek treatment for TTM.
International No Pulling Week is aimed at educating people about TTM to help alleviate the suffering women go through in isolation and highlight the effects the secret syndrome can have on millions of women around the world dealing with it.
Lucinda Ellery, who has hair extensions and hair loss management studios in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Los Angeles, said:
“Everyday my clients tell me their heartfelt stories so I understand how difficult and often humiliating it can be to lose your hair through TTM or for other reasons.
The fact thousands of women in the UK are fighting the urge to pull out their hair Is staggering.
“Too many women are suffering in silence and I hope that through educating people about TTM during International No Pulling Week, we’ll be able to help many more women become ‘pull–‐free’
and in control, so they no longer have to deal with TTM in secret.”
Elaine Beveridge, who has suffered from TTM since the age of 24 commented: “You could always tell if I have had a stressful or bad day because patches of hair loss, the size of 50 pence coins, would become visible again.
“Once I visited Lucinda Ellery, I felt like I had my happiness restored and my life back on track. Simply by talking to me about TTM, she helped me realise that I was not alone and that was not only a huge relief, but a big step in helping me deal with this condition.”
Sam Faiers, star of the hit UK TV series, The Only Way Is Essex, and Olivia Munn, US actress and star of The Newsroom both have admitted to they suffer from TTM as they pull at their eyelashes.
Dr Sarah Brewer, GP, said: “Despite the fact TTM affects up to 1 in 25 people at some point in their lives many people are still not aware of the condition which is why International No Pulling Week is so important. It is time we had a more open discussion about TTM and what we can do for those suffering secretly and alone with this condition.”
Lucinda Ellery offers an array of Hair Management Techniques for thinning hair, patchy hair loss or total hair loss through varying techniques, the ultimate being the Intralace System.
The Intralace System™ is not a cure for hair pulling but can serve as a barrier and reminder for the individual to not pull their hair and has transformed the lives of thousands of women around the world.
The Intralace System™ mesh is gently placed between the individual’s existing hair and the scalp.
The Intralace Panels™, made of ultra-fine mesh containing additional human hair, are then added to the mesh to completely disguise any hair loss.
The system is designed to protect hair strands, allowing hair growth to resume if successfully implemented,and it even gives women the freedom to wash,brush,sleep,style, swim, shower and even swing from the chandeliers without anybody any the wiser. The Intralace system is extremely realistic and can be compared to that of the illusion of contact lenses.
For more information, visit www.lucindaellery.co.uk
