There are lots of changes that occur in your body when you go through puberty. This means you have to pay more attention to things that you never had to before.
Sweat
Everyone has sweat glands however during puberty these develop and start to release sweat. You start to sweat when you are stressed, when you get emotional, when you become sexually excited and when you are hot.
Sweat itself doesn't smell. The smell is made by the bacteria that feed on this sweat. This smell is often called body odour or BO and can be very unpleasant. To avoid smelling bad it is important to wash twice a day, once when you wake as you tend to sweat more when asleep and once in the evening. This means rubbing shower gel or soap all over, not just standing under the water for a few minutes. Antiperspirant also controls sweating and deodorant can help cover unpleasant smells.
Sweaty feet may smell unpleasant because you wear shoes and socks. It is important to change your underwear every day, including your socks. Don't forget that you sweat in bed to, so change your bed sheets at least once a week.
Spots
Lots of young people get spots when they are going through puberty. These spots can appear on your face, back, shoulders and chest. Hormones cause an over production of an oily substance called Ôsebum', which blocks the pores of the skin. Some people get very few spots whereas others can develop acne, which are severe spots. Creams, tablets and anti-bacterial washes are available from your GP or pharmacists. It is important to keep your skin clean and not dry it out by over washing (this actually causes more oil to be produced).
Fresh Breath
Bad breath is very common and is caused by bacteria in the mouth. Most of us have bad breath from time to time, particularly after eating strongly flavoured food such as garlic or onions. Smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol can also cause your breath to smell unpleasant.
To find out if you have bad breath you can lick the back of your hand and smell it. Bad breath can usually be prevented by good dental hygiene. This means having regular check-ups with the dentist, brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, using a mouthwash and using a tongue scraper. Occasionally persistent bad breath can occur and in these situations it is best to see your dentist.
