What is adolescence?

1. What is adolescence? Adolescence • The transition period between childhood and adulthood is referred to as adolescence • Between the ages of 9 and 18 boys and girls start out as children – mentally and physically - and end the phase as adults • Very often this phase is associated with turbulence, arguments, rebelling, depression etc… but it is not necessarily true. If understood well this can be one of the happiest phases in our lives where we start understanding who we are and what is our place in the world

2. Isn’t adolescence same as puberty? • Yes and No. Adolescence and puberty are often used interchangeably. • To be specific puberty refers to the physical changes that happen during the adolescence phase • What are some of the physical changes that we see during adolescence • For girls – onset of monthly periods is one • Development of acne, hair on the body are all examples of physical changes that occur during adolescence in both girls and boys

3. Will everyone go through adolescence? • Yes, but no two persons experiences are the same • Some folks go through adolescence smoothly, some go through major upheavals • Some folks bodies go through rapid changes, while others can take time to mature • The circle of life is the same for everyone – babies to children to adolescence to adults to old age.

4. Why do we need to understand adolescence…why is it getting all this attention? • There are many reasons why adolescence is given so much attention • The body goes through so many physical changes and that too rapidly that it becomes very important to understand these changes • It can be the phase of discovery for many teenagers and can be a foundation for their future lives • Many of the changes experienced by adolescents are sexual and there are lots of misinformation and myths about these changes. So it becomes crucial to understand the truth • Adolescents tend to hang out with other adolescents most of the time. While this gives them a good support group to handle the changes, this can also alienate them from parents and other adults who have gone through this phase before and might have more information which could help them

5. Changes common to boys and girls

6. Growth Spurt – Rapid increase in height and body weight • Girls: the spurt begins b/w ages 10 and 11 and is the fastest b/w 12 and 13 and starts to slow down after 14; Some girls can gain 3” in height in a year • Boys: the spurt begins b/w ages 11 and 12; fastest at 13 or 14 and starts to slow down after 15; some boys gain 4” in height in 1 year • Boys growth happens a bit delayed from girls, which is why there are some 12 year old girls who are taller than the boys in their class! But boys peak growth is higher than girls which is why on an average most boys end up being taller than girls

7. Additional info on Growth Spurt • Growth is again dependent on a number of factors • Genetics, health, nutrition • All these factors will determine how tall or how heavy a person becomes and also determines body shape • In general by adulthood men have more muscle and bone mass than women, while women have more body fat • Also during this growth phase, hipbones grow wider in girls, while shoulders grow wider in boys

8. Body Hair • Before puberty most boys and girls have a thin covering of short, fine hair on their body – except on the eyebrows and the scalp where hair is thicker • At puberty hormones called androgens are released inside the bodies of boys and girls and these hormones stimulate the growth of hair in the armpits and near the genitals (pubic hair) • Hair on the arms and legs get thicker especially in boys and more facial hair (moustache, beard) appears on boys • Some boys also develop hairs on their chest and back

9. Perspiration and Sweat • Our skin has sweat glands which release sweat when it is hot to cool us down. • During puberty sweat glands in the armpits, genitals and anus become active and release sweat. • This sweat initially has no smell, but as skin bacteria decomposes the sweat, it emits an odour • To eliminate this smell it is important to have a bath daily and wash with water the area around the genitals, and the armpits

10. Acne • This is one of the most common problems in adolescence experienced by almost 60 to 80% of young boys and girls • Oil in the skin helps keep the skin soft and waterproof. But during puberty the androgen hormones cause increased activity of the glands that produce this oil. When the skin surface is blocked by dead cells, black heads are formed on the skin. And when these get infected a swelling occurs on the skin. This is acne. • Many adolescents are very worried about acne and there are endless number of products in the market which promise a cure for acne. • But very often the simplest cures for acne are • Washing the face with water and mild soap to remove the excess oil • Not pick on or squeeze the pimples • And remember acne is temporary and usually goes away at the end of puberty