The condition, described by the Mayo Clinic as a “long-term chronic mental health condition wherein people have frequent, repeated and irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body,” started for Munn after a traumatic spotlight situation.
A Reaction to Public Scrutiny
While Munn doesn’t reference specific sources of her trichotillomania, she’s said in the past that she began when dating actor Chris Pine between late 2009 and early 2010. And when their photographs began appearing on paparazzi sites, after an evening spent leaving Pine’s apartment, she made the error of reading the comments online.
“I did the terrible thing, which was to read the comments…, and they were like, ‘I think she set this up!’ ” Munn recalled. “That began my trichotillomania. That was the very beginning.”
She shared that the sensation was painful and temporarily satisfying but she instantly regretted doing that.
“It could be hair on top of your head … I’ll just be like, oh, this eyelash feels like it’s going to come out. And then there’s the painful moment of yank. “And then there’s that satisfaction and an instant regret.”
Continuing Her Candid Health Journey
Munn has grown more and more candid about her health. In 2024 she disclosed a diagnosis of Luminal B breast cancer that had been detected in both of her breasts. She underwent a double mastectomy as part of her treatment.
She revealed in May 2025 that she had had a hysterectomy as part of her cancer treatment. The decision came after the side effects of a cancer medication left her with severe fatigue.
“It was the best thing that I could’ve done for myself at the time because I needed to be able to be with my family,” Munn told Vogue.
Opening up about her struggles — from trichotillomania to cancer — Munn has helped shine a light on lesser-known health issues and the need for self-advocacy and mental health.
