The term “second puberty” is gaining more and more importance and concerns the women concerned.
If as you approach your thirties, your hips are getting wider, an acne breakout is making life difficult for you, or you are having trouble managing your excess anger, know that you are not alone. The term “second puberty” is gaining more and more importance and concerns the women concerned. “It is a recently popularized term, used to describe the disorders complained of by certain young women, generally between 25 and 30 years old” explains Dr. Pierre Nys, endocrinologist, specializing in hormonal imbalances. We talk about “puberty” but the disorder affects adult women. “The confusion may come from our Australian friends. They believe that adolescence continues until the age of 24-25, mainly due to the sociologically late entry into adulthood.”
Reappearance of acne, widening of the hips…
During the first puberty (the real one), which generally occurs around the age of 10-11, young girls see the appearance of discreet pubic hair, development of the mammary glands and acceleration of growth. On the other hand, during the second “puberty”, women complain of “the reappearance of moderate acne, changes in weight and silhouette (such as enlargement of the pelvis), as well as sensations of swelling (especially in the breasts)” notes the endocrinologist. Because of what ?
► “The second puberty can be linked to hormonal disturbances, sometimes minimal, of essentially ovarian, sometimes adrenal, or much more rarely pituitary origin.
► “THE Chronic stress is a major cause of hormonal imbalances, particularly adrenal ones. Thus, the secretions of aldosterone (water retention hormone) and cortisol (stress hormone itself) are dysregulated and can initiate the disorders.
► Changing contraceptive pills or prolonged use of unsuitable pills.
► Endocrine disruptors: “Plastics, dyes, preservatives, but also skin care, makeup, perfumes… All have a so-called ‘hormone-like’ action, excessively reproducing the usual hormonal activities, by direct action on the receptors” recalls the expert.
► Too much sugar: “The liver is responsible for regulating numerous hormonal balances. If its function is impaired, it can contribute to poor hormonal harmony. The most common reasons for this liver damage, at the ages considered, are the combination of a poor diet, especially excess sugars, and weight gain.
The question to ask yourself
Dr. Pierre Nys therefore recommends being vigilant about your new habits: “If you are affected by this second puberty, find out if you have changed your lifestyle (new makeup, skin care, etc.) or your diet.” If so, you just need to eradicate them to combat the problem. “In the event of hormonal dysregulation linked to an imbalance of the ovaries or adrenal glands, transitional treatment to restore appropriate function may be required” explains the endocrinologist. “Each case being particular, the advice of a doctor may be necessary if the problems worsen or persist, but you should know that these situations are rare.”