Everything You Want to Know About Puberty
What is Puberty
Puberty is the period during which growing boys or girls undergo the process of sexual maturation. Puberty involves a series of physical stages or steps that lead to the achievement of fertility and the development of the so-called secondary sex characteristics, the physical features associated with adult males and females (such as the growth of pubic hair). While puberty involves a series of biological or physical transformations, the process can also have an effect on the psychosocial and emotional development of the adolescent.
For a Boy
The physical changes of puberty for a boy usually start with enlargement of the testicles and sprouting of pubic hair, followed by a growth spurt between ages 10 and 16. Arms, legs, hands, and feet also grow faster than the rest of the body. Your body shape will begin to change as his shoulders broaden and he gains weight and muscle.And that first crack in the voice is a sign that his voice is changing and will become deeper.
Dark, coarse, curly hair will also sprout just above your penis and on your scrotum, and later under your arms and in the beard area. Your penis and testes will get larger, and erections, which a boy begins experiencing as an infant, will become more frequent. Ejaculation (the release of sperm-containing semen) will also occur.
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For a Girl
Puberty generally starts earlier for girls, some time between 8 and 13 years of age. For most girls, the first evidence of puberty is breast development, but it can be the growth of pubic hair. As your breasts start to grow, you will initially have small, firm, tender lumps (called buds) under one or both nipples. Dark, coarse, curly hair will appear on your labia (the folds of skin surrounding the vagina), and later, similar hair will begin growing under her arms.
The first signs of puberty are followed 1 or 2 years later by a noticeable growth spurt. your body will begin to build up fat, particularly in the breasts and around your hips and thighs, as you takes on the contours of a woman. Your arms, legs, hands, and feet will also get bigger.
The culminating event will be the arrival of menarche, your first period (menstruation). Depending on the age at which you begin your pubertal development, girls may get their first period between the ages of 9 and 16.
Common Puberty Concerns
Pimples are common for most teens. Acne is caused by glands in the skin that produce a natural oil called sebum. Puberty hormones make the glands produce extra sebum, which can clog the pores. Washing gently with water and mild soap can get rid of excess sebum and help reduce breakouts.
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Kids who once associated bath time with play need to learn to wash regularly and to apply deodorant or antiperspirant. A teen who's learning to shave will need to learn how to keep a razor clean, to throw a disposable one away before it becomes dull and ineffective, and to not share it with others.