Body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB) is a general term for a group of disorders that include skin picking, nail biting, hair pulling, and affected at least 5% of the population. These behaviours are not bad habits. They are complex disorders that cause people to touch their hair and body repeatedly and in ways that cause physical damage.

Common BFRBs

(Trichotillomania) causes people to pull out the hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, and other parts of the body resulting in noticeable bald patches. 5-20% of people who have hair pulling disorder also swallow the hair.