The Expert Says
Sweating is a healthy part of being active, so don’t be embarrassed if you smell a bit after an intense game of basketball. Just take a shower as soon as you can.
Finally, body hair begins to spread over the legs and arms. This can continue even a few years after all the other big changes of puberty have already happened. Some boys develop chest hair long after puberty, even into their 20s. But not all adult men have chest hair.
You may have noticed (or someone might have told you!) that you are starting to smell, and not like a flower! As you go through puberty, the sweat and sebaceous (oil) glands in your skin become more active. This makes you sweat more. Because of hormonal changes, your sweat also has a different (some people say stronger) smell.
Your sebaceous glands are also pumping out more oil and this is part of what causes acne (also called “pimples” or the slang name “zits”) in boys going through puberty. Acne and smelliness are normal, but there are ways you can take care of your skin to help decrease problems with both. You can read more about this in Chapter 2.
The Expert Says
Sweating is a healthy part of being active, so don’t be embarrassed if you smell a bit after an intense game of basketball. Just take a shower as soon as you can.
If you are worried that the people around you will notice when you have an erection, carry around an extra sweatshirt that you can keep on your lap.
Have you ever gotten to the point where you are happy one moment, furious the next, and then sad half an hour later? Welcome to one of the hardest parts of puberty: mood swings.
There are at least two reasons for mood swings. The first is the hormonal changes that are going on in your body. Yes, that pesky testosterone strikes again! The second has to do with your changing place in the world. Puberty is the bridge between being a boy and being a man, and sometimes you might feel like you don’t belong either place. You aren’t a kid anymore, but sometimes you feel like one inside and still want to do kid things. On the other hand, you aren’t ready for the responsibilities of an adult, even though you may feel like you want and need more independence. Some days you might feel out of place and like no one understands what you’re going through. No wonder you might be a little (or a lot) cranky!
Talking about your feelings might help keep those emotions in check. Don’t worry if it is hard for you to open up. Everyone feels this way sometimes. A trusted adult will understand if it is difficult for you to get the words out.
BOYS SAY:
FOR A WHILE I THOUGHT MY CHEST LOOKED WEIRD, LIKE I HAD LITTLE BREASTS GROWING THERE. IT WAS MOSTLY A PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN EVERYONE WAS WEARING BATHING SUITS. I ASKED MY MOM TO GET ME A RASH GUARD SWIM TOP AND THAT REALLY HELPED. PLUS I DIDN’T HAVE TO WEAR AS MUCH SUNSCREEN.
-Robbie, age 18
Actually, boys do have breast tissue under their nipples. About half of all boys develop some swelling under their nipples as a part of middle puberty. The medical name for this is gynecomastia and it is a normal reaction to hormonal changes in the body. There are no medications that can make this swelling disappear, it just goes away on its own, usually in about six months. If you feel particularly worried about it, talk to your parents or a health care provider.