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Dear Ben:
Growing up can be pretty hairy, especially for boys. After years of sporting a squeaky clean face,
suddenly you're using a razor and shaving cream to scrape stubble from your chin! So what's causing
all that stubble trouble? In a word, hormones! During puberty, these chemical signals give you the
greenlight to grow into adulthood, and the growth of body hair is just one of many big changes that
are happening to you! (And for more details, be sure to check out the
Your Gross and Cool Body portion of this site. Just go to the
pull-down "Choose a body system" menu and look under the "endocrine system." ) On average, boys
grow facial hair between the ages of 14 and 16. A few boys may notice this hair before they're 13,
while others won't get any until they're 19 or 20.
Okay, so now that you have hair, you want to get rid of it! But before you start shaving,
check to see that the blades of your razor are smooth and free of nicks. You may cut yourself if
they're not. Be sure that your razor is sharp, too. A dull blade can irritate and pull at your
skin. And after you've finished shaving, splash cold water on your face. Since shaving opens up the
pores of your skin, you'll need the cold water to close them up and prevent dirt from getting in.
Still unsure about this mysterious morning ritual? Then ask your dad -- or that
fatherly-figure in your life -- for advice--after all, he has many more years of experience than
you! In any case, don't let any of your body's big changes scare you during puberty. Instead,
they're just telling you that all is well on your way to adulthood. And keep in mind that all the
cool and confident grown-ups you admire today were once clumsy, gawky kids who went through
puberty, too!
Signed,
Wendell
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