What Is Dysmorphophobia?

Pregnant woman reflection in mirror

Carla G / Moment / Getty Images

Table of Contents
View All
Table of Contents

Dysmorphophobia, or the fear of deformity, is the condition now known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a somatoform disorder in which people imagine and focus on perceived bodily imperfections.​

Body dysmorphophobia (BDD) is a broad term that encompasses multiple specific fears. Some people are afraid of becoming deformed or disfigured; others fear those who have a disfiguring condition. Some expectant parents worry that their child will be born with a deformity.

Some people with this fear focus on perceived imperfections in many areas of the body; others focus on a single part. Common areas of concern include facial features, body symmetry, hair, and muscularity.

Symptoms of Dysmorphophobia

People with dysmorphophobia often experience intrusive thoughts related to a perceived deformity or a fear of one. For example, they might become excessively concerned or distressed about a scar or mole. Such thoughts not only intrude unexpectedly but also lead to significant distress and changes in behavior. 

Some signs and symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Avoidance of certain situations
  • Compulsive behaviors
  • Depression
  • Discomfort
  • Attempts to hide or disguise the perceived flaw
  • Tendency to compare with others
  • Dissatisfaction with cosmetic procedures intended to "fix" the flaw
  • Constant need for reassurance from others

Diagnosis of Dysmorphophobia

An Italian psychiatrist first described dysmorphophobia in 1891. This condition was first included in the third edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" but was later changed to body dysmorphic disorder in a later revision. 

Your doctor will assess your symptoms and rule out other conditions before diagnosing dysmorphophobia. Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms include:

Causes of Dysmorphophobia

The causes of dysmorphophobia are not fully understood, but several factors are believed to play a role. These include:

  • Bullying
  • Brain abnormalities
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Low self-esteem
  • Social relationships
  • Societal and media influences
  • Trauma and abuse
  • Triggering events

Body dysmorphic disorder commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions. For example, studies have found that around 60% of people with BDD also develop an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives.

Types of Dysmorphophobia

Body dysmorphic disorder usually involves some common areas of concern, although it can focus on specific parts of the body. More general worries about imperfections and the fear of deformity are common, too. Symptoms often center on:

  • Breasts
  • Facial features
  • Genitals
  • Hair on the body or head
  • Nose size
  • Skin imperfections such as acne, freckles, scars, and wrinkles
  • Thighs

In some cases, the fear of deformity in others is based on medical fears. People who have germ phobia, hypochondria, or nosophobia may be at particular risk for this type of fear, but it can occur in anyone.

A lack of understanding can increase the fear of other people's deformities and disfigurements. Some disfigurements are caused by communicable diseases such as leprosy. Although these diseases are now readily treatable, they have been stigmatized for centuries.

Treatment for Dysmorphophobia

People who have dysmorphophobia commonly seek treatment from plastic surgeons, dermatologists, dentists, hairstylists, and other professionals rather than mental health providers to fix their perceived physical problems. 

However, treatments are available that can relieve the symptoms of BDD. If you develop an unhealthy obsession with your appearance or that of a loved one, seek professional assistance.

Like most phobias, dysmorphophobia responds well to a variety of mental health treatments. Left untreated, the phobia can worsen, gradually limiting your daily life and preventing you from connecting with others.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one approach frequently used to treat body dysmorphic disorder. CBT helps people learn how to identify the automatic negative thoughts that contribute to their fears of deformity and imperfections. Once they recognize these thoughts, they then practice finding ways to replace those thoughts with more positive, realistic ones.

Medications

Health practitioners sometimes prescribe medications to help with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. These may include antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been shown to help reduce some symptoms of BDD. These tend to be most effective when used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Recap

People with dysmorphophobia often attempt to hide or fix their perceived flaws rather than seek treatment for their disorder. Psychotherapy and medication, however, can be effective.

Coping With Dysmorphophobia

If you are experiencing symptoms of dysmorphophobia, there are things that you can do that may make it easier to cope. Some strategies you might try include:

  • Avoid comparing yourself to others: Although it might be difficult, stop making social comparisons so you feel less fixated on your own body. Look for ways to reframe your thoughts in more positive ways.
  • Practice relaxation strategies: Finding ways to relax and care for yourself can help reduce the stress associated with dysmorphophobia. Strategies such as meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness may be helpful.
  • Practice positive self-talk: Rather than focusing on negative evaluations of yourself, make it a point to notice your positive qualities. When unhelpful, critical thoughts pop up, turn your attention to more helpful ones.
  • Focus on acceptance: No matter your appearance, you should focus on practicing self-acceptance. Work on accepting others as they are. By being less critical of others, you might become less critical of yourself, too. Show compassion to yourself and others.

A Word From Verywell

Dysmorphophobia is often relieved through exposure and experience. When these fears center on deformities and disfigurement, learning more about them can help lessen symptoms of fear and anxiety.

For people experiencing body dysmorphic disorder, treatment is important to relieve the distress and intrusive thoughts that can interfere with normal function.

If you or someone you know are struggling with body dysmorphic disorder, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What causes dysmorphophobia?

    Dysmorphophobia can have a number of causes including differences in brain structure and chemistry, genetics, social pressure, bullying, and trauma. Evidence indicates that people with other mental health conditions such as anxiety are more likely to experience body dysmorphic disorder.

  • How is body dysmorphophobia similar to OCD?

    Both OCD and BDD are characterized by obsessive and intrusive thoughts that are persistent and disruptive. In both conditions, these thoughts create considerable distress and are difficult to control. In addition to these obsessions, both BDD and OCD often lead to compulsive behaviors.

  • How common is dysmorphophobia?

    In the general population, body dysmorphic disorder affects between 1.7% and 2.9% of all people. According to the International OCD Foundation, it is possible that more people have the condition but stigma may make people reluctant to reveal symptoms and seek treatment. Among people seeking general cosmetic surgery, the prevalence is around 13.2%.

10 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Singh AR, Veale D. Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorderIndian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S131-S135. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_528_18

  2. Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA. Body dysmorphic disorderDialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-232. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/abjornsson

  3. Arienzo D, Leow A, Brown JA, et al. Abnormal brain network organization in body dysmorphic disorderNeuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(6):1130‐1139. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.18

  4. Browne HA, Gair SL, Scharf JM, Grice DE. Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disordersPsychiatr Clin North Am. 2014;37(3):319-335. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002

  5. Mufaddel A, Osman OT, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M. A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settingsPrim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4):PCC.12r01464. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01464

  6. Harrison A, Fernández de la Cruz L, Enander J, Radua J, Mataix-Cols D. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;48:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.007

  7. Hong K, Nezgovorova V, Hollander E. New perspectives in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorderF1000Res. 2018;7:361. doi:10.12688/f1000research.13700.1

  8. Drüge M, Rafique G, Jäger A, Watzke B. Prevalence of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (Bdd) and associated features in Swiss military recruits: A self-report survey. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):294. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03288-x

  9. International OCD Foundation. Prevalence of BDD.

  10. Veale D, Gledhill LJ, Christodoulou P, Hodsoll J. Body dysmorphic disorder in different settings: A systematic review and estimated weighted prevalence. Body Image. 2016;18:168-86. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.07.003

By Lisa Fritscher
Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics.