Early puberty is not pathological

Puberty at the age of eight or nine is usually not a disease

09/25/2013

When puberty starts in children at the age of nine or even earlier, many parents are insecure. But a disease is often not behind it, as experts explain. Therefore, it is quite normal that children come into puberty earlier today. According to studies, both the ethnic origin and the onset of puberty in the parents play a role. Were mother or father „early Bloomer“, Children often show early signs of puberty.

Early puberty can be very stressful for children
Puberty can be a very stressful time for teens. Because on the way from the girl to the woman or from the boy to the man, not only major physical changes occur. The psyche is also usually subject to increased stress. This is also confirmed by Karina Weichold, developmental psychologist at the University of Jena. Above all, precocity could lead to psychosocial consequences. „If, for example, adolescents, unlike their girlfriends, struggle with their love handles early on because of puberty, emotional problems such as lack of self-confidence, depression or anxiety disorders are a source of concern, "the expert told the news agency „dpa“. In addition, early onset puberty can lead to early sexual contacts as well as to alcohol abuse. Weichold advises parents to always maintain good contact with their children and to talk about education at an early stage. „Having a good conversational culture right from the start, and having children volunteer to share what they are experiencing at school and at leisure, is a very important protection factor against many different problem behaviors.“

Nowadays puberty usually begins shortly before the eleventh or twelfth year of life
Among the external signs of puberty among the girls is the growth of the breast. In the boys, the testicle volume increases and the penis gradually increases in size, then in length. „On average, puberty sets in Germany shortly before the Eleventh and in boys shortly before the age of twelve, "said Professor Olaf Hiort, Head of the Hormone Center for Children and Adolescents of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, to the news agency. „But there is a big fluctuation. "

When exactly puberty starts depends on various factors. On the one hand, the ethnic origin has an influence on the hormonal balance of the adolescents, on the other hand, the onset of puberty also seems „to inherit“. Because if the parents reached sexual maturity early on, the children are usually among the „early starters“. In addition, lifestyle habits, diet and stress within the family are considered influencing factors.

When does early puberty turn into illness??
„If the girls are more than eight and the boys more than nine years old, then that is not the case, then it is usually an early normal puberty, "Hiort explains In boys before the ninth birthday begins, it is a premature puberty, then a disease as a trigger is possible.Prime may occur together with adulthood, among other things, in addition to physical stress - especially in very young children - can also The psyche suffer, as the physician explains, children are often overwhelmed when the physical changes start very early.

Before considering a hormonal treatment of the child, but should be clarified in any case, whether actually a pathological finding exists. This is also stated by Esther M. Nitsche, a doctor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine and the second chairperson of the Association for Pediatric Gynecology in Germany, to the news agency. She reports that many parents are worried about premature puberty of their children and therefore urge for hormone therapy. „With a treatment, we have a massive impact on the hormone balance, "warns Nitsche. „It is always hard to be the first girl, especially as you can see the changes.“ In addition, increase the risk of abuse. Mood swings would also affect many girls and boys in this phase of their lives, reports Nitsche.

Naturopathy with pimples and growing pains during puberty
The typical symptoms during puberty include growth pains and pimples. Instead of „hormone club“ Natural home remedies can be used to relieve the symptoms. Thus, growth pain in homeopathy can be alleviated, especially with Acidum phosphoricum or Calcium phosphoricum in potencies D6 and D12. The latter can also be taken as a mineral after Schüßler. For external use envelopes are suitable with Swedish bitters, which are placed on the aching limbs.

As a home remedy for pimples and blackheads masks and packs with healing earth are recommended. The healing clay soaks up the toxins and can alleviate inflammations or prevent them in advance. The juice of aloe should also be effective against pimples and impure skin if applied thinly in the evening. Daisies have an anti-inflammatory effect and can be processed into a tincture for the skin at home. For this, the heads of about 100 daisies are placed in 100 milliliters of 40 percent alcohol. After three to four weeks, the tincture can be spotted directly on the pimples. (Ag)

Picture: Rainer Sturm