Skip Navigation

Display Mode:

  • Choose Default Style
  • Choose High Contrast
PAMF Preteen Health Education California
  • Preteen Home
  • About the Preteen Group
  • PAMF Home
  • My Body
  • My Feelings
  • Growing Up
  • My Interests
  • For Parents & Teachers
  • Preteen Way2Go!
Section TitleMy Body
  • Dental Health
  • Body Science
  • Especially for Boys
  • Especially for Girls
  • A Message from Your Pediatrician
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • Glossary of Terms
    Main content

    Information for Preteens:
    Physical Changes for Girls

    Puberty – it's a crazy time. Your body is changing and so is everything else. But, what is causing all these changes?

    Well, you know how everyone says that puberty is all about raging hormones – and it's kind of true. Hormones that were hibernating suddenly awaken and signal your body to enter puberty.

    You might think that means nothing…hormones, shmormones. But, those hormones cause all the changes that you might associate with puberty.

    • Physical Changes Timeline
    • Breasts
    • Pubic Hair
    • Growing
    • Sweat & Acne

    Physical Changes Timeline

    Since there is so much going on, I've drawn up a time line so that we can go through the steps chronologically.

    Puberty EventAge at which it happens
    Growth of breasts8-13
    Growth of pubic hair8-14
    Body Growth9.5-14.5
    First Period10-16.5
    Underarm Hair2 years after pubic hair shows up
    AcneApprox. same time as underarm hair

    One word of caution about my timeline: puberty is not always perfectly regular, so some girls will grow pubic hair before they develop breasts, and that is absolutely normal.

    Back to top

    Breasts

    Breast development starts off between 8 and 13 years of age and continues through puberty. First, the flat area around the nipple (areola) becomes enlarged, and breast tissue forms under the nipple.

    When breast development is complete, each breast is distinct and the areola no longer appears swollen. Breast size varies from woman to woman. You cannot change your breast size without plastic surgery, which is not always a very safe or healthy alternative.

    Back to top

    Pubic Hair

    Pubic hair starts along the vaginal lips, the outer opening of your private parts. The hair becomes darker and coarser and grows like an inverted triangle. Sometimes, the hair spreads to the insides of your thighs as well.

    Back to top

    Growing

    Puberty also causes you to go through a growth spurt, which results in an average growth of about 3.5 inches a year. The weird thing is that all of you doesn't grow at the same time. Your head, hands, and feet are the first things to grow; followed by your arms and legs; and finally your torso and shoulders.

    Height growth is, of course, accompanied by an increase in weight. This weight gain is perfectly normal and a part of puberty. Without gaining this weight, you cannot grow taller, develop breasts, or get your first period.

    Back to top

    Sweat & Acne

    Finally, underarm hair begins to grow. Your sweat and oil-producing glands also start developing, which eventually results in acne when these glands are clogged.

    In order to avoid breakouts, you should wash your face twice daily and, if you regularly break out, it might be useful to consult a dermatologist.

    Back to top

    Author:
    Katie Ransohoff,
    high school student writer

    Reviewed by: Adolescent Interest Group
    Last reviewed: August 2013

    • Information for Parents
    • Site Map

    © 2014 Palo Alto Medical Foundation. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health®, Reg. U.S. Patent. & Trademark office.
    Serving communities around Palo Alto, Mountain View, Fremont, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Dublin, San Mateo & Santa Cruz.