Sometimes, as a parent, you may be worried when you see changes in your little one's body a little early. For example, it's normal to be worried if you see things like armpit hair or body odor before the age of 8. But this is not always something to be afraid of. Today, we're talking about a natural process called 'Adrenarche', which causes this condition.
What is Adrenarche?
Simply put, adrenarche is a natural process that occurs in your child's body. It occurs when the child's adrenal glands start producing more of a hormone called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). This usually happens between the ages of 6 and 8. To be precise, it starts about two years before the child begins to go through puberty.
DHEA is a 'precursor hormone'. That is, our body takes DHEA and uses it to make other powerful hormones. These are called androgens. For example, hormones like testosterone and androstenedione . Also, the hormone estrogen is made from DHEA. These androgen hormones help to start the process of puberty.
Think of it like a rehearsal for puberty. Adrenarche is like setting the stage before the real show begins.
Adrenarche can be detected by measuring the level of DHEAS (another form of the DHEA hormone) in the blood. However, because this is a natural process, doctors do not usually order this test for children.
What happens inside the body during adrenarche?
During this time, a special layer on the outer part (cortex) of the child's adrenal gland undergoes maturation. As it matures, the glands produce the hormone DHEA. The body then uses that DHEA to make androgen hormones. These hormones cause the following things to happen:
| The influence of hormones | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Sebaceous glands become active | The skin and hair become oily, which also contributes to body odor. |
| Apocrine glands become active | Special sweat glands in places like the armpits and groin start working. These are the main cause of body odor. |
| Pubic and axillary hair | Thick, dark hair begins to appear in the private areas (around the genitals) and under the armpits. |
But this is different from true puberty (gonadarche) . True puberty involves the production of hormones by the ovaries in girls and the testicles in boys. This is what causes the development of breasts in girls and the development of the genitals in boys. Adrenarche and gonadarche are two independent processes that are not related to each other.
What are the symptoms of adrenarche?
When adrenarche begins internally, there are no outward signs. This means that once the DHEA hormone begins to increase, the child's body will not show any changes.
However, about two years after the onset of Adrenarche, a period called Pubarche occurs as a result. Pubarche is the beginning of hair growth in the private parts. Doctors consider this to be the physical result of Adrenarche. This is the first sign that marks the beginning of puberty.
Other symptoms seen during pubarche are:
- Hair growth under the armpits
- Body odor
- Oily skin and hair
- Acne
What is premature adrenarche?
Premature adrenarche is when the symptoms we discussed earlier, such as hair growth and body odor, appear earlier than expected. Typically, these symptoms appear before the age of 8 in girls and before the age of 9 in boys . This condition is more common in girls than boys.
Symptoms of Premature Adrenarche
- Appearance of pubic and/or armpit hair before the age of 8 in girls or 9 in boys.
- Body odor is so bad that you need to use deodorant.
- Sometimes these children may be taller than other children their age.
Here's something very important. In the case of Premature Adrenarche , there is no breast development in girls, nor does there be enlargement of the genitals in boys. If your child is showing any of these signs, it is likely to be another condition called 'Precocious Puberty'. Therefore, it is essential to talk to your doctor about it.
How do you find this, Doctor?
If your child has these signs of precocious puberty, the doctor will first try to find out if there is another serious condition causing these symptoms. This may involve examining the child's body and possibly doing blood tests and scans. The doctor will definitely ask your permission before examining the genitals.
Your doctor may also refer you to a pediatric endocrinologist .
| Other medical conditions ruled out by the doctor | |
|---|---|
| Precocious Puberty | Early onset of puberty (development of breasts, genitals). |
| Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia | A congenital problem with the adrenal glands. |
| Androgen-secreting tumors | Types of tumors that produce androgen hormones. |
| Exogenous Androgen Exposure | Androgen hormones entering the body from outside (e.g., some creams). |
Only after confirming that there are no other serious causes will the doctor call this 'Premature Adrenarche'. This is the cause of about 90% of children who develop hair prematurely.
Is Premature Adrenarche a dangerous condition?
It can be scary to see your child develop premature hair growth, but premature adrenarche is usually not physically dangerous.
However, research has found that these children may have a slightly increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and some mental health problems later in life .
More than just physically, this can affect a child's mental health . When their body changes in a way that is different from their peers, the child may feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, and isolated. Other children may even make fun of them. If your child is feeling stressed out about this, it is a good idea to seek help from someone like a child psychologist .
There is no specific treatment for this. Once hair growth has started, there is no way to stop it or reverse it. And it is not usually preventable.
Take-Home Message
- Adrenarche is a natural, normal process that occurs before puberty.
- Premature adrenarche is when its symptoms (armpit/pubic hair, body odor) appear before the age of 8 in girls and before the age of 9 in boys.
- Breast growth or enlargement of the genitals does not occur here. If so, it is a different condition.
- Although this is usually not physically dangerous, it can affect the child's mental health.
- If your child has these symptoms, it is very important not to panic and to see your family doctor to ensure that there are no other serious causes.
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