5 Secrets Every Teen Girl Should Know

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Teenage years are among the most challenging in every young girl’s life. Hormonal changes during adolescence lead to various emotional and physiological changes. All of this may be disconcerting to a young girl, and she may be yearning for someone with whom she can share the dilemmas and secrets of a teenage girl.

If your daughter or someone you know is going through something similar and needs help, this post can be a good start. We provide you with information about teenage girls’ emotions and how you can approach your daughter to help her through this phase of self-discovery and help her gain maturity.

Teenage Secrets

Here are some vital transformations to occur in your teen girl’s life:

1. The onset of menstrual cycle:

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• The thought of periods and the onset of the menstruation cycle haunt the mind of every teen girl. Your growing angel may often think, “When will my period start?” or “What if I start bleeding in the middle of class?”

• Your teen often wonders about how to handle her period during school time.

• You can take your teen to a gynecologist, who can measure the expected time of the onset of puberty using a device called Tanner scale. The instrument looks at your teen’s netherhair , and how much her bosom has developed in the last few years.

• When your teen does not have netherhair and the chest looks almost flat, the onset of menstruation has some more time left.

• But once she notices the growth of curly netherhair and growth of bust, the odds are high that she will have her first period soon.

• To prepare your teen for her period, ask her to carry a sanitary napkin to school with her.

• Whenever your teen notices a dark brown or pinkish spot in her inner wear, ask her to wear the pad for safety. It is also advisable for your teen to wear dark-colored bottom wear like skirts or trousers.
• If your teen’s period starts in the middle of classes, she can simply go to the toilet and wad up some tissue in her panty. After returning home, she can immediately throw the tissue and wear the sanitary pad.

Olunfunmike, a medical student from Nigeria, shares her first-period experience as a young girl. She says, “I got my first period when I was 13. It happened one Saturday morning in September 2014… I woke up that morning to use the restroom, and lo and behold, the red witch was here. I didn’t shout or make a fuss; in fact, I almost didn’t inform my mum because I thought, ‘Girl, you got this!’ I eventually told her because I didn’t have a pad to use. I had totally forgotten about the promo pack I Always gave to us when they came to my school that I had been keeping for years. My mum gave me one of hers, and I used it. It felt uncomfortable. My mum went ahead to give me “the talk” about how I have now become a woman, and I should be careful around boys and the rest… I did not really have any questions about periods because prior to that time, we had been taught in school about the whole menstruation brouhaha. Also, Always had come to give us an orientation about it, so I already had enough information about it (i).”

2. Enlargement of bust:

• During puberty, your teen will notice sudden enlargement of the bust and her hips due to increase in fatty tissue deposits.

• Some teen girls also experience slight pain in their bust, when they go through puberty phase. But in the case of severe pain, it is best to consult the doctor.

Quick tip

Encourage your teen to exercise every day. It can be as simple as taking a jog in the park or participating in a sport they enjoy, like football or swimming.

3. Body odor:

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• Your adolescent’s body odor is a bit different, and she reeks. Teenage sweat differs from kid’s sweat, and the body odor is worse than before.

• The hormonal changes activate her armpit glands, which contribute to the odor. The sweat further combines with the bacteria and emits a pungent smell.

• Instruct your teen girl to take a shower every day with lukewarm water and mild soap. She needs to follow basic hygiene like changing inner wear every day and wearing clean clothes.

• Your teen may use a deodorant that can mask unwanted odor and help her stay fresh and feel good.

• It is advisable for teen girls to wear pure cotton inner wear and clothing, as it helps absorb sweat and is airier than other textiles.

Point to consider

Ensure your teens take enough water. Also, include green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale in their diet. This may also assist in reducing body odor.

4. Growth of facial and body hair:

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• The growth of unwanted netherhair and underarm hair is one of the common signs of puberty in teen girls. Your teen may have hair growth on armpits and upper lips that may make her feel embarrassed and she may have to visit the parlor regularly.

• To minimize the unwanted hair growth on upper lips and underarms the grown up girl can opt for cosmetic treatments like waxing, bleaching or depilatories. To shave the unwanted hairs of underarm, legs, and bikini line, she can also use a ladies razor or an electric hair remover.

• When your daughter frequently experiences irregular periods, too much unwanted netherhair and skin acne she may have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In such a case, it is best to consult the specialist immediately.

5. Skin acne:

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• During puberty, your girl may experience skin acne. The hormonal imbalance makes her skin oily, and she develops pimples and blisters.

• To keep skin acne under control, your teen must follow hygiene etiquettes like washing the face regularly. She should never scrub her skin as it can worsen the acne and irritate her skin.
• Doctors prescribe usage of over-the-counter topical medications containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of skin acne.

Quick tip

Ask your teen to keep their hair off the face and not squeeze or pick at pimples because doing so might leave scars.

How To Help Your Teen Girl Cope With The Situation?

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It is tough to be a parent today and even harder when you have a teenager at home. The hormonal changes, the growth spurt, and various other changes might make the teenagers feel distant from their parents, or they may find one parent, mother or father, easier to approach.
Parents need to get along well with their teenagers so they would come to you with any issues, especially teenage girls. As shown in the graph below, using the data collected from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), 80-90% of girls and boys (10-13 years) prefer to go to their mothers with a problem, as compared with 72-77% of boys and 55-66% of girls who would rather go to their father.

Who would young teens go to with their problems

• Be observant. When your daughter goes through trouble, she may become a bit nervous and stressed out. Try to observe her and don’t let her keep secrets. You can watch for visible changes in her routine and behavior and take requisite actions accordingly.

• Try to develop a healthy relationship with your teenage girl and help her discover her identity. Tell her the facts of life and what transformations you had to face during and after puberty. Establish a trustworthy relationship and enable your daughter to feel confident about her life. Staying silent or making threatening comments can affect your teen’s mental health, and it may weaken your relationship.

• Educate your daughter and help her learn more about the different aspects of teen life. Make her aware of the physical transformation she will face during puberty so that she remains prepared for a life-changing phase.

• One of the best ways to handle your teen’s issues is by staying positive and proactive. Instead of threatening your daughter, try to encourage her and get involved in worthwhile activities.

• Try to have open communication with your teen girl that strengthens your relationship. Communication may involve both talking and listening. The open communication encourages your teen to disclose her fears and get her doubts clarified regarding sexuality, physical intimacy, puberty, and menstruation.

• Many teen girls have poor self-esteem and body image issues due to peer pressure and overexposure to social media. As a responsible parent, it is best to remain positive and establish a positive energy to boost her self-confidence.

Infographic: Ways To Support Your Daughter Deal With Puberty

Puberty brings about many changes in girls. Supporting your teenage daughter at this time can be challenging. But you need to be a role model and a source of reassurance for your girl. Use the tips in this infographic to help assist your child during this stage.

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Puberty can be confusing and overwhelming. Let’s decode it together and learn what to expect during this important time in a girl’s life.

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Dr. Neema ShresthaMD

Dr. Neema Shrestha is a pediatrician with a special interest in the field of neonatology. She has an overall experience of five years working in the field. Currently working in Kathmandu, Nepal, she completed her MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 2008, Diploma in Child Health from D.Y. Patil University in 2011, MD from Nepal Medical College in 2015...more

Manjiri Kochrekar

Manjiri is a freelance writer with experience in writing on a wide range of topics, including travel, education, yoga, and children’s activities, fun and learning. She is passionate about creative writing and loves to put her thoughts into words. Manjiri excels in breaking down complex information, ideas and aspects of life into simpler elements for an easy read.more

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Harshita is a graduate in commerce and holds a PG Diploma in Patent and Copyrights Law from NALSAR University. She has also pursued CA and has more than three years of internship experience in auditing. Her love for travelling has taken her to various parts of the world, and writing the travelogues was what brought out her love for content...more

Trisha ChakrabortyMA, BEd

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan. Trisha believes that being a teacher enabled her to have a closer look at children’s developmental needs and capabilities. Her experience reflects in the articles...more