a documentary:
Dermatillomania
Hi, my name is Vaani, and I'm a 16-year-old sufferer of dermatillomania. I'm creating a documentary that redefines how society views dermatillomania (and other BFRBs such as trichotillomania) by combining neuroscience, personal experience, and cinematic storytelling to expose the still underresearched psychology behind BFRBs and spark a global rebranding of what it means to live with them.
the most popular unspoken of disorder
What is a bfrb?
A BFRB, or Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior, is a mental health disorder where someone compulsively damages their own hair, skin, or nails, often to cope with stress, anxiety, or sensory urges. Added to the DSM-5 in only 2013, at least 1 in 20 people have a chronic case of it whether they know it or not.
but wait...
What's the problem?
Dermatillomania and other BFRBs affect up to 24% of the population, yet fewer than 30% of those affected seek treatment due to stigma and lack of awareness. These disorders are linked to severe outcomes, including 40% reporting suicidal ideation and over 45% experiencing depression. Physically, they can cause chronic skin damage, scarring, and even infections (with 6% of severe cases requiring surgery) yet they’re still rarely discussed in health education or clinical settings.
Our Solution
We believe BFRBs should be taught in health class as early as middle school, just like substance abuse or eating disorders. By introducing accurate, stigma-free education early on, students can recognize the signs in themselves or others before these behaviors become deeply ingrained. Normalizing the conversation empowers teens to seek help sooner, reducing lifelong damage and breaking the cycle of shameful silence.
based on science
Whereas other documentaries focus on surface-level awareness, we aim to uncover the why— investigating the underresearched neurobiology behind BFRBs. Early studies suggest dopamine and serotonin imbalances may fuel these compulsions, but the exact mechanisms remain unknown because no one’s seriously studied them. We're here to change that.
with experts like
Dr. Nancy Keuthen
Dr. Nancy Keuthen is one of the leading experts in the field of BFRBs and co-founder of the Trichotillomania Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research has been instrumental in establishing dermatillomania and trichotillomania as legitimate psychiatric conditions, advocating for their inclusion in the DSM-5. She has explored the cognitive, genetic, and neurobiological components of BFRBs, emphasizing the need for specialized treatment and greater clinical awareness long before most of the world even acknowledged these disorders existed.
as well as...
Dr. Jon E. Grant
Dr. Jon E. Grant is one of the foremost researchers on BFRBs, known for pioneering studies on their neurobiology and treatment. His recent clinical trial found that memantine significantly reduced symptoms in over 60% of participants; one of the most promising medical breakthroughs for compulsive skin picking to date. He continues to push for precision medicine and deeper research into the brain mechanisms driving these disorders.
launch date upcoming
Join the waitlist
Be part of the change! Body-focused repetitive behaviors are too common to continue being ignored and mislabeled.
Thank you
Your support is critical in preserving the self-confidence of the people, young and old, who suffer from dermatillomania or another BFRB.Note: Experts being featured may change and evolve as the documentary is filmed and created.