People suffering from a disorder that affects millions nationwide are finding help in the Poconos. A hair salon is helping many deal with a disorder that is difficult to even talk about.


Melissa Onoroto, left, and
salon owner Charlene Blacer
have formed a support group
for people with trichotillomania.
"I started seeing patches and then my parents started saying, 'what's going on?' so that is kind of where I realized, wow this is something I can't stop," recounted Melissa Onoroto of Stroudsburg.

She has trichotillomania, also known as trich. It's an obsessive compulsive disorder in which people compulsively pull out their hair, leaving some with no eye lashes, eye brows and bald spots on their heads.

Many would never even admit they had the condition.

"I was ashamed, embarrassed. I couldn't imagine talking about it," Onoroto said. Now she is talking.

She's teamed up friend and salon owner Charlene Blacer to start up a support group for people with trich.

The Secret Mane Hair Salon in downtown Stroudsburg is one of the only salons in the region to specifically treat people with the disorder, creating specialized hair pieces and extensions for clients.

"Over 50 percent of our clients have trich and we are helping them," Blacer said.

Trich.org estimates nearly 2.5 million people suffer from the disorder nationwide and some of the are right in the Poconos. I would know. I am one them. I was diagnosed with trichotillomania when I was nine years old.

"They are right in our backyard," Onoroto added.

She is not stopping. She's gone all the way to the state capitol and now, because of her efforts, this week is Trichotillomania Awareness Week in Pennsylvania.

The Secret Mane trich support group kicks off it's first meeting Wednesday, October 8 at 6 p.m. at the salon at 572 Main Street in Stroudsburg.