HEALTH

Puberty is pretty much the opposite of fun. Your hormones take a ton of twists and turns that leave you wondering why there are suddenly zits in weird places and if your boobs should look lopsided. No need to panic. We're getting to the bottom of some of your funky bod issues right here, right now.

"Um, my boobs are two different sizes!"
Welcome to the club, where almost every woman on the planet is or has been a member (it's called incongruent breasts, btw, and it's not a big deal). Like the rest of your bod, your breasts are still growing and it’s normal for them to develop at slightly unequal intervals. The fact of the matter is, most people won't notice. If you're feeling really uneasy about it, though, check in with your doc to be sure everything is A-OK, and then snag a bra with removable pads and remove one to balance it out.

"My arm hair is crazy thick."
Here's the biggie: don't shave it. Seriously. Hair comes in tons of different colors, textures and thicknesses on all girls, so having a little extra arm fuzz isn't something to freak over. Some girls wax or bleach, but we think it's not that big of a deal. Ignore it, and we bet you'll notice it less and less over time.

"Ugh, my period is sooo unpredictable." 
If you have a very heavy flow or a super light flow or your period doesn't come every 28 days, well, that's considered irregular. Turns out, most girls have an irregular period during their first year of menstruation. But according to The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, if your period doesn’t come within 90 days of your last cycle, or if it’s chaotically irregular, check in with your doc. And always be honest with your doc about your cycle, so she'll know if there are any probs (and, trust us, she's heard it all).

"Why do I suddenly have stretch marks?"
Those faint but raised gray, silvery purple or pink lines on your body (like on your stomach, breasts, thighs, butt and/or upper arms) are just due to fluctuation in weight, which happens a ton during the teen years. Stretch marks aren’t detrimental to your health, and they often fade over time. Like most things, you're more likely to notice them more than anyone else. Some girls find using a lotion with vitamin E in it helps them vanish faster.

"All of a sudden, I have zits everywhere. Seriously."
Ah, bacne and it's equally gross and annoying BFF buttne. Unfortunately, the combo of sweat and oil on the skin's surface clogs pores, and that icky mix can happen on your chest, back and buttocks, in addition to your face. Try wearing loose-fitting clothes or fabrics that wick sweat away while you work out, and always shower after you exercise. Investing in a body wash with salicylic acid can help bust those bod breakouts, too. And, yes, it's super common.

We want to hear from you! Send us your weirdest body questions here (seriously, we'll answer anything!) and it just might get featured.

by Sydney Adamson | 8/24/2019