Yes, it is damaging to pull out hair. Pulling out your own hair can lead to a variety of issues such as hair loss, bald spots and even permanent scalp damage. The body’s natural healing process can also be disrupted when you pull out your own hair leading to scarring or infection. In extreme cases, the constant pulling of one’s own hair can cause immunity problems and even depression or anxiety. Hair pulling has been linked with other obsessive-compulsive behaviors like skin picking which are associated with certain mental health disorders such as trichotillomania, an impulse control disorder characterized by the urge to pull out one's own body hairs resulting in noticeable bald patches on the scalp and face. Therefore if you find yourself compulsively pulling at your hair it may be best to seek professional help before further damage is done.