Puberty and hair growth
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First pubic hair, in a triangle for girls, or down from the navel towards the penis for boys and underarm hair for both. Then the hair that was already covering the arms and legs becomes thicker; for boys, hair grows down the centre of the chest and around the nipples. And teenage boys develop a moustache and beard, while girls sometimes get a fine down of hair in the same areas.
Hair removal: a choice, not an obligation
According to your traditions, fashion or personal taste, you may want to remove some of this new hair.
- For girls, several techniques exist: cold or warm wax hair removal, shaving (not recommended because it strengthens the hair which grows back), depilatory creams (to be handled with care so as not to irritate the delicate skin in underarm and pubic areas) Some girls with more hair growth will find they have to remove the hair from their legs often and bleach their facial hair. You can do this yourself or go to a beautician.
- For boys, your only worry is whether you want to keep your beard and moustache or not. To remove or look after your new facial hair, you can use an electric or normal razor (better result for partial shaving), while being careful not to irritate your face with poor quality shaving soaps or lotions. These days, a lot of men are also removing their body hair, but you can probably wait a couple of years before having to think about that.
Puberty, perspiration and body hygiene
From puberty onwards, the body secretes various strongly odoured substances, so you should wash daily, taking special care to clean your external genital area and under your arms to remove sweat, sebum or, for girls, vaginal discharge. However, there’s no need to use soap directly in your vagina as it “self-cleans”.
Be wary of clothes or shoes that make you perspire (synthetic underwear, trainers, nylon jogging bottoms, etc.). Other things, apart from body odour, can also cause skin problems: fungal infections (microscopic fungus) that cause irritation or a burning sensation.
Take particular care of your face, which can be prone to spots: acne can be treated as long as you keep up the often-lengthy course of treatment. Don’t hesitate to consult your doctor if you have an ongoing problem with acne.
Copyright © 2009 Doctissimo
Posted 03.09.2010
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