Is there a disease or condition where people like to eat their own hair?

I saw a guy doing that in class today, it was really bizarre. He would touch the top of his head, move it down his nose into his mouth. He did that about 6 times. What kind of condition causes someone to do that. He is from Iraq and I am thinking he may be traumatized because of the war or something.

Trichotillomania is hair loss caused by compulsive pulling and/or twisting of the hair until it breaks off. The hair may be lost in round patches or diffusely across the scalp. The effect is an uneven appearance.

Trichotillomania is a type of compulsive behavior and its causes are not clearly understood. Symptoms usually begin before the age of 17. People with this disorder will often seek the help of a dermatologist initially. Women are 4 times more likely to be affected than men.

These symptoms are usually seen in children:

1. constant tugging, pulling, or twisting of hair
increasing sense of tension is present before
the hair pulling.
2. sense of relief, pleasure, or gratification is reported after the hair pulling.
3. hair pulling leads to an uneven appearance
bare patches or diffuse loss of hair.
4. hair regrowth in the bare spots that feels like stubble
5. some individuals may develop a bowel obstruction if they eat the hair they pull out.
6. other self-injury behaviors may be present.
7. people suffering from this disorder often deny pulling out their hair.

I dont know it this is what he has but it seems possible see #5 above. Did it appear that he was missing patches of hair? It may also be a nervous disorder. Hope this helps.

Yes and it is called pica.

chek it out...

It's a compulsive disorder. It's when somebody does something and they can't stop. For instance they would scratch themselves raw over an itch that's long gone. I had a classmate that would pick the skin around her fingernails and the skin would all be raw.

You are probably referring to Pica. Pica is a disease in which the afflicted person eats non-edible things: hair, paper, paint, dirt, etc. It is considered to be an eating disorder. Of course, eating disorders are a mental health issue.

Yes there is. It has a specific name for a person who compulsively eats their hair. I foget what it is.
It is not from any type of trauma. It is similar to obsessive/compulsive disorder. It is very hard to cure and these people sometimes have to get their stomachs examined and the hair pulled out. It is quite upsetting to the person who does it but they cannot help themselves at all.
They often go bald from it. They try prescribing various drugs for it but it is really hard to control in any way. It can go on for many years.

Pica is most common in people with developmental disabilities:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/be...

Trichotillomania (TTM) or "trich" is an impulse control disorder:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillo...

Maybe he really wishes he was a monkey eating his own head lice lol! Or he may possibly have a lot of doughnut sprinkles in his hair. Give him a snack.