TV personality and former reality star Anna Robards has opened up about her daughter’s habit that was so “traumatising” the family was forced to turn to “extreme” methods to help her.
Robards has two daughters, Elle, 5, and Ruby, 2, with husband Tim Robards, who she met on reality show The Bachelor.
While speaking on a recent episode of her health and wellness podcast In Your Skin, Robards shared she had struggled to find answers when Elle suddenly started pulling out her hair.
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“I was seriously lost because for a good six months to over a year my daughter was pulling out her hair,” Robards said.
“I didn’t know what it was, or what I could do.
“I was looking up so many things and nothing gave me an answer. I didn’t even know who to go to and speak to.
“It was actually quite traumatising for me and my husband because she was starting to get a bald patch at the back of her head.”
Robards was on the verge of tears as she recalled being so desperate for a solution they resorted to “extreme measures”, taping their daughter’s fingers together to stop her pulling out her hair.
“The reason she was pulling her hair is because she was sucking her fingers and then pulling her hair out with the other hand,” Robards said.
“And the only thing that would stop her is if she stopped sucking her fingers.
“But we couldn’t get her to stop sucking her fingers, so we had to tape her two fingers together.”
Robards said they continued the method for two months and eventually her daughter broke the finger-sucking habit, which also stopped the hair-pulling.
Robards then asked guest speaker Dr Leona Yip — one of Australia’s leading dermatologists and a sub-specialist in alopecia and scalp disorders — for answers.
Yip explained Robards’ daughter likely had a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania, which is common in children.
The mental health condition is characterised by an irresistible, repetitive urge to pull out one’s own hair, leading to noticeable hair loss, distress and interference with daily life.
It is classified as a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB). The pulling can be a conscious response to stress and anxiety or a subconscious, trance-like habit.
The condition most commonly affects the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes but can occur anywhere on the body.
“In children it is just a compulsive habit, like sucking your thumb,” Yip said on the podcast episode.
“And they usually do that because they’re a bit bored, or they’re just tired and they’re watching TV.
“They don’t think about it, it’s just something that they do — whether it’s a habit, or it’s for fun.
“They grow out of it.”
Yip explained for some children, the hair-pulling can follow another issue, such as head lice or an itchy scalp.
Less commonly, in teenagers and adults, it can reflect deeper emotional issues.
Yip said situations such as changes in family life or bullying at school should also be considered.
“But in most children it is a habit and will go away,” Yip said.
“It’s just reminding them not to do it.”
Yip added Robards’ method of taping her daughter’s fingers together was “good”, provided it did not distress the child.
“It was extreme but she got used to it because it was the only solution for us,” Robards said, reflecting on that stressful time.
“And if we didn’t do that, she honestly would have the biggest bald patch.”
Robards said it took a long time for the hair to grow back but the condition has finally settled.
Yip advised if you or your child is experiencing hair or scalp issues, the first point of contact should be a GP before turning to social media serums that promise quick solutions.
