1yr old pulls out hair

My daughter has been pulling her hair out since she was around 5 months old.  She is now 14 months and is still doing it.  When she first started this I brought it to the attention of our family physician.  He told me that it was associated to an ear infection.  That seemed logical enough so I had no reason not to trust him.  6 weeks later she was still doing it.  I again told my physcian and he then told me it was just a phase that she would grow out of.  I since have started seeing another doctor in the same practice.  She stopped her hair pulling for a short time but has started it back up again.  PLEASE HELP!!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Unfortunately, there's little you can do about this in any direct way, provided she is otherwise healthy and developing in a normal way. Be sure to provide her with items with which she can play, and try not to leave her unoccupied for stretches of time without things to keep her busy. Infants and toddlers will tend to do this when they are not busy, and their natural curiosity and exploration usually result in their attending to whatever it is you surround them with.

[Jenalyn4]

Research Trichotillimania.  I have never heard of anyone her age having this but I have suffered from it for 18 years.  There is medication that can help control it.