Korean J Dermatol.  2020 Jan;58(1):47-50.

Two Cases of Trichotillomania in Children that Were Successfully Treated with N-acetylcysteine

• Choi H
• Kim CJ
• Na CH
• Shin BS
• Kim MS

Abstract

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a medical condition characterized by an intense urge to pull out of own hair, resulting in a perceptible hair loss pattern. TTM is associated with other psychiatric processes such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder. TTM generally has a chronic course in most patients and is difficult to treat and manage. There are a few options for treatment in children, and the clinical response is not satisfactory. Recently, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutamate modulator, has shown efficacy in the treatment of TTM and other compulsive behaviors, and it is considered a new alternative therapy in the management of TTM. Here, we present two cases of TTM in children that were successfully treated with NAC. NAC could be an effective and safe treatment option for TTM.

Keyword

NAC; N-acetylcysteine; TTM; Trichotillomania