Trypophobia Explained: Why Clusters of Holes Trigger Intense Disgust
Updated: 3 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026
Editorial note: This article is provided for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health situation.
Quick Answer
Trypophobia is an intense aversion, usually disgust more than fear, to clusters of small holes or repetitive patterns such as honeycombs and seedy fruits [1]. It is not recognized as a disorder in the DSM, and its cause is unclear [1]. Reactions can include sweating, a racing heart and nausea [1]. Exposure therapy or CBT can help if it disrupts daily life [1].
What the research says
Trypophobia is common, and it tracks with anxiety and depression. In a population-representative sample of 2,065 young people in Hong Kong, prevalence was 17.6%; trypophobia was associated with severe anxiety (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.32–2.53), depression (OR 1.78, 1.24–2.56), and stress (OR 1.68, 1.11–2.53), although effect sizes were generally small (Wong et al., BJPsych Open, 2023) [2].
Most people with trypophobia feel disgust more than fear. In an online survey of 195 people, symptoms were chronic and persistent, most respondents reported disgust rather than fear, and they were more likely to meet DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia than for obsessive-compulsive disorder; major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were the most common comorbidities (Vlok-Barnard & Stein, Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 2017) [3].
Exposure-based therapy is the best-supported treatment for specific phobias. In a meta-analysis of 33 randomized treatment studies, exposure-based treatment produced large effects compared with no treatment and outperformed placebo and other psychotherapies, and more sessions predicted better outcomes; these trials covered specific phobias in general rather than trypophobia specifically (Wolitzky-Taylor et al., Clinical Psychology Review, 2008) [4].
When should you see a doctor about trypophobia?
If your reactions to holey patterns affect your daily life, talk with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. Reach out sooner if you also experience depression, anxiety, or symptoms of OCD, extreme irritability, insomnia, or panic attacks [1].
Trypophobia is often uncomfortable but not debilitating [1]. In more extreme situations, it can affect your ability to work, go to school, or socialize [1].
What Is Trypophobia?
Trypophobia is an aversion or repulsion toward objects with repetitive patterns or clusters of small holes [1]. People with trypophobia are usually disgusted by the pattern; they don’t necessarily fear the holes themselves [1]. The closer a person is to a holey object or image, the more likely they are to react [1].
Some studies suggest that as many as 17% of children and adults have some degree of trypophobia [1]. Public awareness grew after news stories about reactions to clusters of tiny camera lenses on certain smartphones and after a television character with trypophobia appeared on screen [1].
The American Psychiatric Association does not list trypophobia as a disorder in the DSM, so there are no established diagnostic criteria [1]. Clinicians and researchers still describe it as a real source of distress for many people.
What are common trypophobia triggers?
Trigger group | Examples |
Plants and natural objects | Honeycombs, sunflowers, lotus seed pods [1] |
Foods | Bread and bagels with seeds, cheese with holes, and fruits with small seeds such as strawberries, raspberries, papaya, and kiwi [1] |
Everyday items | Sponges, soles of shoes [1], clusters of tiny camera lenses on smartphones |
Animals | Insects and bees, and the skin of snakes, lizards, frogs, and other reptiles [1] |
What are the symptoms of trypophobia?
When exposed to a pattern of holes, some people have an immediate, involuntary physical reaction, ranging from mild discomfort to a panic attack in extreme cases.
Physical symptoms | Psychological symptoms |
Fast breathing and heart rate [1] | Intense feeling of disgust or terror [1] |
Profuse sweating (hyperhidrosis) [1] | Panic attacks in extreme situations [1] |
Chills, trembling, or shaking [1] | Increased stress and irritability |
Nausea, choking, or dry mouth; pale skin [1] | Insomnia or sleep problems |
What Causes Trypophobia?
Experts don't know why some people develop trypophobia, but researchers have proposed theories linking it to danger, disease, the brain's processing load and OCD.
Danger association: The brain may link clusters of holes with dangerous animals, such as the skin of a venomous snake or the eyes of a tarantula [1]. Research has found that images that trigger trypophobia share a visual feature — high-contrast energy at mid-range spatial frequencies — with a range of potentially dangerous animals (Cole & Wilkins, Psychological Science, 2013) [5].
Disease association: The holes may remind the brain of skin diseases or rashes [1].
Processing load: The brain may use more energy and oxygen to process complex, high-contrast holey patterns, triggering distress [1].
OCD link: Trypophobia may also be a feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder in some people [1].
A study that developed a trypophobia questionnaire found that the discomfort depends on a particular visual profile rather than on holes themselves: clusters of bumps caused about as much discomfort as clusters of holes (Le et al., Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 2015) [6]. Trypophobia affects more females than males [1], and people with anxiety, depression, or OCD may be more prone to it [1].
How Is Trypophobia Diagnosed?
Because trypophobia is not a recognized DSM disorder, no standardized diagnostic criteria exist, and it has not yet been included in diagnostic manuals such as the DSM (Martínez-Aguayo et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2018) [7].
An online trypophobia test exists solely for research purposes [1]. It shows images with and without clusters of holes for one to eight seconds each, asks you to estimate how long you viewed each, and gives a ratio at the end; a ratio higher than two may indicate trypophobia [1]. It is not a diagnosis, so discuss any concerns with a mental health professional.
How is trypophobia managed and treated?
When trypophobia affects your ability to engage in activities or enjoy life, exposure therapy may help you gradually manage your response to holey patterns [1]. During exposure therapy, your provider:
Teaches you breathing and relaxation techniques to use before and during exposures [1].
Shows you images or videos of clusters or patterns of holes while helping you manage your response.
Gradually expands the exposures until you are touching or holding something with a holey pattern, like a sponge [1].
Exposure therapy: Psychotherapy that helps as many as nine in 10 people overcome specific phobic disorders [1]. Trypophobia itself has been studied far less, so that figure comes from specific phobias in general.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps change your perceptions and responses to situations that trigger trypophobia [1].
Relaxation methods: Breathing, meditation, mindfulness, or visualizing soothing images can calm your body’s reaction.
Short-term medication: Anti-anxiety medications generally don’t help people with specific phobias, but a provider may prescribe one for short-term help when you know you will face a trigger [1].
What is the outlook for trypophobia, and can it be prevented?
Most people who complete exposure therapy see improvements in their symptoms [1]. Once you have a handle on your triggers, breathing or relaxation methods can help you manage your body’s reactions [1]. There is no proven way to prevent trypophobia, but relaxation techniques may help you manage the feelings.
Conclusion
Trypophobia shows how complex our brains’ responses to visual patterns can be. The disgust triggered by clusters of holes can be distressing, but it is manageable.
By understanding the proposed explanations and seeking professional support when reactions interfere with daily life, people can learn to manage their triggers, most effectively through exposure therapy.
Your next step: If your reactions to holey patterns are affecting your daily life or causing significant distress, consider speaking with a mental health professional. Online tests are for research and are not diagnostic, so a professional can help you decide whether exposure therapy is right for you.
Related reading: Specific Phobias and Exposure Therapy | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Sources: Cleveland Clinic — Trypophobia | Wong et al., 2023 | Vlok-Barnard & Stein, 2017 | Wolitzky-Taylor et al., 2008 | Cole & Wilkins, 2013 | Le et al., 2015 | Martínez-Aguayo et al., 2018
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the word “trypophobia” mean?
The word trypophobia combines the Greek words for “hole” and “fear.” The term was first named in 2005.
2. Is trypophobia a real fear?
For most people it is an intense feeling of disgust rather than a true fear. In an online survey of 195 people, most reported disgust rather than fear when they saw clusters of holes.
3. How common is trypophobia?
Some studies suggest as many as 17% of children and adults, about one in six people, have some degree of it. A study of 2,065 young people in Hong Kong found a prevalence of 17.6%.
4. Why does trypophobia happen?
Experts don’t know for sure. Theories include an evolved association between these patterns and dangerous animals or disease, and the brain needing more energy to process high-contrast repetitive patterns.
5. What are the most common food triggers?
Seeded breads and bagels, cheese with holes, honeycomb, and fruits with small seeds such as strawberries, raspberries, papaya, and kiwi.
6. Does trypophobia affect men and women equally?
Cleveland Clinic reports that it affects more females than males.
7. Is there a formal test for trypophobia?
There are no established diagnostic criteria. An online test used for research compares how long you estimate you viewed holey versus neutral images, and a ratio above two may suggest trypophobia. It is not a diagnosis.
8. Can trypophobia be treated?
Yes. Exposure therapy helps as many as nine in 10 people with specific phobias, and most people who complete it see improvements. That figure comes from specific phobias in general, since trypophobia itself has been studied far less.
9. Why do smartphones trigger trypophobia?
Clusters of tiny camera lenses on some phones resemble the repetitive patterns that cause revulsion, which is one reason awareness of the condition grew.
10. Is trypophobia linked to other mental health issues?
Trypophobia is associated with anxiety, depression, and stress. In the Hong Kong study, trypophobia was linked to higher odds of severe anxiety and depression symptoms, although the effects were small and association does not prove cause.
11. What physical symptoms are common?
Chills, a dry mouth or choking sensation, fast breathing and heart rate, pale skin, profuse sweating, nausea, and trembling.
12. Can children have trypophobia?
Yes. Studies suggest it can affect both children and adults.
13. Are there medications for trypophobia?
Anti-anxiety medications generally don’t help people with specific phobias, although a provider may prescribe one for short-term help in a situation you know will trigger a reaction.
14. How does exposure therapy work?
A provider teaches breathing and relaxation techniques, shows images or videos of holey patterns while helping you manage your response, and gradually builds up to touching or holding an object such as a sponge.
15. Can trypophobia be prevented?
There is no proven way to prevent it. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, mindfulness, or visualizing soothing images may help you manage reactions.
References
Cleveland Clinic. Trypophobia. Cleveland Clinic. August 11, 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21834-trypophobia
Wong SMY, Tang EYH, Hui CLM, et al. Excessive fear of clusters of holes, its interaction with stressful life events and the association with anxiety and depressive symptoms: large epidemiological study of young people in Hong Kong. BJPsych Open. 2023;9(5):e151. PMID 37577835. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.540
Vlok-Barnard M, Stein DJ. Trypophobia: an investigation of clinical features. Braz J Psychiatry. 2017;39(4):337-341. PMID 28423069. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2016-2079
Wolitzky-Taylor KB, Horowitz JD, Powers MB, et al. Psychological approaches in the treatment of specific phobias: a meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2008;28(6):1021-1037. PMID 18410984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.02.007
Cole GG, Wilkins AJ. Fear of holes. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(10):1980-1985. PMID 23982244. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613484937
Le ATD, Cole GG, Wilkins AJ. Assessment of trypophobia and an analysis of its visual precipitation. Q J Exp Psychol. 2015;68(11):2304-2322. PMID 25635930. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2015.1013970
Martínez-Aguayo JC, Lanfranco RC, Arancibia M, et al. Trypophobia: what do we know so far? A case report and comprehensive review of the literature. Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:15. PMID 29479321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00015
Medical disclaimer
This article is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Panic attacks, persistent depression or anxiety, or insomnia related to a phobia warrant evaluation by a healthcare professional. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health situation.
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