Medical Disclaimer

Last updated: 15 July 2026

trichotillomania.com is operated by IPSU Ventures Ltd ("we", "us"), a company registered in England and Wales. This page explains what this website is — and, just as importantly, what it is not.

1. This website provides information, not medical advice

Everything on this website — including articles, guides, research summaries, downloadable products, worksheets, emails, and directory pages — is provided for general information and education only.

Nothing on this website is, or is intended to be, medical advice, psychological advice, psychiatric advice, therapy, counselling, diagnosis, or treatment of any kind. Nothing here is a recommendation for or against any specific treatment, medication, supplement, therapy, practitioner, or course of action for you or your child.

2. No professional relationship is created

Reading this website, downloading or purchasing any of our products, joining our email list, or contacting us does not create a doctor–patient, therapist–client, or any other professional or clinical relationship between you and us, or between you and anyone who writes for or reviews content on this site. We do not know your circumstances, your medical history, or your child's, and nothing here has been prepared with your individual situation in mind.

3. Always consult a qualified professional

Always seek the advice of a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other appropriately qualified health professional with any questions you have about trichotillomania, any other body-focused repetitive behaviour, or any other medical or mental-health condition — yours or your child's. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.

If you think you or your child may have a medical or mental-health condition, contact a qualified professional. Do not use this website to self-diagnose or to diagnose anyone else.

4. Emergencies

Never use this website in a medical or mental-health emergency. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or you believe someone may harm themselves or others, call your local emergency services immediately — 999 in the UK, 911 in the US, 112 in much of Europe — or go to your nearest emergency department.

In particular: if you or your child swallows pulled hair and experiences stomach pain, vomiting, or difficulty eating, seek medical attention promptly. Swallowed hair can, in rare cases, cause a serious medical condition that requires urgent treatment.

5. Who writes this website

Content on this website is written primarily from lived experience of trichotillomania, informed by published research. Unless a page expressly states otherwise, our authors are not doctors, psychologists, therapists, or licensed health professionals, and content has not been individually reviewed by one. Lived experience is valuable — but it is not a clinical qualification, and it is not a substitute for one.

6. Research summaries

Where we summarise published studies (including studies of medications and supplements such as N-acetylcysteine or memantine), we aim to reflect the source accurately, and we link to the original so you can read it yourself. However:

• A study summary is not a treatment recommendation. Research findings are frequently preliminary, contested, or later revised.
• Never start, stop, or change any medication, supplement, or treatment based on anything you read here. Medications and supplements — including those available without prescription — can have side effects and interactions. All such decisions belong in a conversation with a qualified prescriber who knows your (or your child's) medical history.

7. The therapist directory

Our directory lists therapists and other providers who state that they treat trichotillomania and related conditions. A listing is not a recommendation, referral, endorsement, or guarantee of any provider, their qualifications, their availability, or the quality, safety, or suitability of their services.

While we may carry out limited checks, we cannot and do not verify every claim a listed provider makes, and information can become outdated. You are responsible for verifying any provider's credentials, registration, licensure, and suitability before engaging them — including checking the relevant professional register in your country or state. Your relationship with any provider you find through this directory is solely between you and that provider; we are not a party to it and accept no responsibility for services they provide or fail to provide.

8. Paid products, including the Parents' Guide

Our paid products are educational. They do not diagnose or treat any condition, they are not therapy or a substitute for it, and — because every person and every family is different — we make no promise about outcomes, including any promise that pulling will reduce or stop. Where our materials describe changes other families have experienced, those are illustrative of some people's experience, not a guarantee of yours. Any testimonials reflect the genuine experience of the individuals quoted; results vary.

9. Accuracy and currency

We work hard to keep this website accurate and up to date, but health information, research, laws, insurance schemes, costs, and provider details change constantly. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or currency of anything on this website. Any reliance you place on this website's content is at your own risk.

10. Third-party links and resources

This website links to third-party websites, organisations, helplines, and resources. We do not control them, we are not responsible for their content, availability, or practices, and a link is not an endorsement.

11. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude all liability for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of or in connection with your use of, or reliance on, this website or its content, including any decision made or action taken (or not taken) on the basis of it.

Nothing in this disclaimer excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law. In particular, nothing here excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or affects any statutory rights you have as a consumer (including, for UK consumers, your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015).

12. For visitors outside the United Kingdom

This website is operated from the United Kingdom. We make no representation that its content is appropriate or lawful in any other jurisdiction, or that it complies with the laws, regulatory requirements, or clinical guidelines of any other country. If you access this website from outside the UK, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with your local laws. References to healthcare systems, costs, insurance, or regulations in other countries (including the United States) are general information only and may not reflect your state, province, insurer, or circumstances.

13. Changes

We may update this disclaimer at any time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed. Your continued use of the website after a change means the updated disclaimer applies.

14. Contact

Questions about this disclaimer: hello@trichotillomania.com