Trichophobia is an inaccurate, intense fear of hair. This fear may lead to avoidance behaviors and physical discomfort, which can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

Trichophobia involves a strong, complicated fear of exposure to hair. A person may react to hair on their own head, finding loose hairs on their clothing, or to another person’s hair.

The fear can lead to avoidance behavior where a person actively tries to avoid exposure to hair. It can also lead to several other distressing symptoms, including:

  • nausea
  • fainting
  • panic attacks
  • increased heart rate

Trichophobia’s meaning comes from Greek. “Trichos” means “hair,” and “phobia” means “fear.”

Trichophobia is a type of specific phobia. Specific phobias involve an unreasonable amount of fear, anxiety, or panic attacks due to exposure or anticipated exposure to stimuli such as hair.

About 12.5% of American adults will experience a specific phobia at some point in their life. The exact number of people living with trichophobia is not known.

A person with trichophobia has a persistent fear of hair, often when it comes to touching or seeing loose hairs on various areas, such as the body or clothing. This fear can include:

  • animal hair
  • the hair of others
  • a person’s own hair
  • images or videos of hair

The fear of hair or potential exposure to it causes significant distress. The unease can lead to avoidance behaviors and extreme levels of distress.

The symptoms a person with trichophobia may experience can vary both in intensity and manifestations. Some possible symptoms a person may experience include:

  • avoidance of places, people, or activities where hair may be present
  • signs of panic, such as sweating or trembling, when exposed to hair
  • intense fear or anxiety when exposed to hair or situations involving hair

Signs of trichophobia could be:

  • chest tightness, trouble breathing, or fast heartbeat
  • physical symptoms like fainting, dizziness, or nausea
  • trouble concentrating or functioning normally due to a pressing need to avoid hair

Children may present with different symptoms due to fear or anxiety. These can include:

For diagnosis, doctors or psychiatrists look for the following:

  • marked fear or anxiety regarding hair, including loose hair, their own, or others’ hair
  • hair almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety
  • fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
  • a person actively avoids or endures with intense fear or anxiety exposure to hair
  • fear or anxiety appears out of proportion to the actual danger posed by hair
  • fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent and has lasted 6 or more months
  • another mental health disorder does not better explain the symptoms

The exact cause of trichophobia is not known.

Experts generally agree that specific phobias, like trichophobia, may develop due to one or more factors including environmental, psychological, and genetic.

Evidence suggests that traumas can contribute to the development of mental health disorders, including phobias. A traumatic event in a person’s life involving hair may lead to the development of trichophobia.

Healthcare professionals can treat trichophobia.

The optimal treatment for trichophobia involves cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of psychotherapy where a counselor helps a person to identify and challenge irrational thoughts and beliefs that may cause their fear of hair.

In the case of a phobia, CBT usually takes the form of exposure therapy or in-person experiments meant to challenge beliefs about the threat of phobia. This can be a draining and difficult form of therapy and may not be completed by everyone.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend medication as an off-label use.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any medications to treat specific phobias. Doctors may prescribe antidepressants, beta-blockers, or tranquilizers in conjunction with CBT or other therapies to help manage symptoms.

Living with trichophobia can be challenging, but several different coping strategies may help you overcome your anxiety and fear.

Some coping tips that may help you include:

  • Social support: look for a support group either online or in your area with members who also experience phobias
  • Educate yourself: take time to learn more about trichophobia to help feel less isolated and better understand what it is
  • Remain consistent with treatment: stick with your treatment plan or let your therapist know what you’re having difficulty with if you would like additional support
  • Don’t do it alone: consider gradual exposure with a close friend, family member, or therapist

Trichophobia is an inaccurate strong fear of hair. However, the exact cause of trichophobia is unknown. It may be due to reasons associated with other types of specific phobias, such as past traumas, genetics, or environment.

People with trichophobia may show signs of a panic attack or attempt to avoid exposure when exposed or when they fear they may get exposed to hair. Fear of hair may involve loose hair on clothing, hair on the head, their own, or other people’s hair.

Treatments often involve CBT, medication, or a combination of therapy and medication. A person may also want to join a support group, engage in physical activity, and practice relaxation techniques.