few hairs, a chemical hair remover or bleach made just for the face is a
possibility. Both are available in drugstores, but they can burn your skin
and must be used carefully and always with a parent—never on your
own. Another option is professional waxing, which is effective but has
an “ouch” factor. Every method has pros and cons. Start slow.
Dear American Girl,
I am 10 and I have super-hairy arms and legs. Some
people make fun of me and I try to laugh with them,
but it really does hurt.
Fuzzy
All people have hair everywhere on their bodies, ranging from fine
to thick and from light to dark. It’s normal and healthy. But if your
body hair bothers you—and only you—you could try making some of
your hair less noticeable. Talk with a parent about your feelings, and
ask your doctor for any recommendations he or she might have for
someone your age. As for the teasing, laughing along may help keep
insensitive remarks from getting out of hand. But if you’re feeling hurt,
try leveling with these people, especially if they are your friends: “You
probably don’t mean to hurt my feelings, but it bothers me when you
make fun of me. Please stop.”
Face & Skin
Dear American Girl,
My skin is getting greasy. My mom had greasy skin and
pimples when she was my age. Is there anything I can do to
keep my skin from breaking out?
Grease Face
Oily skin isn’t a bad thing. Without oil, your skin would feel dry and
rough. But as you start puberty, your oil glands may start working
overtime, clogging your pores and leading to breakouts. The best way
to avoid breakouts is to care for your skin before they happen: Wash
your face every morning and night with warm water and an oil-free
cleanser, and follow up with an oil-free face lotion. Avoid pore-
cleaning strips and toners—they’re meant for adult skin. And don’t
wash your skin more than twice a day. If you strip your face of too
much oil, your glands will work extra hard
to give your skin back the oil it lost.
To fight shine during the day,
just blot your skin with
clean facial tissues.
Dear American Girl,
I have TONS of pimples and blackheads on my face.
What can you recommend?
Need Answers
To help get pimples under control, look for the ingredient salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide on the label of an oil-free acne gel or cream. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria that can cause pimples, and salicylic acid mainly helps keep pores from clogging. To use either one, spread a small amount (about the size of a pea) evenly around your face after washing and drying it. Be careful to keep it away from your eyes and mouth—it’s strong stuff. Use the product only two or three times a week to start, and work up to using it every day if your skin doesn’t get too dry or irritated. Experiment to see which one works best for you. If your acne is more severe, try using them together, or use one in the morning and the other at night. If this doesn’t help get your acne under control, talk to your parents about seeing your doctor. Treatments are available that can help even the most severe cases.
Dear American Girl,
I have pimples on my arms. I wash my arms, but they are
still there. What should I do? Is this normal?
Getting Picked on by Pimples!
During puberty, many girls get small, skin-colored bumps on their
upper arms or thighs. The bumps aren’t pimples, although they may
look like them. Instead, they’re a harmless condition called keratosis pilaris, which just means “bumpy skin.” To help them go away, try using a washcloth or loofah in the shower (gently—no hard scrubbing!), and then use an oil-free moisturizer. No matter what, the bumps will start to disappear as you get older.
Dear American Girl,
My friends always tell me I’m really pale, and
sometimes I get teased about my freckles. Can
you please give me advice?
Snowgirl
Freckles and fair skin are part of who you are, along with your hair and
eye color. Try letting your friends know you’re OK with the features you
were born with by saying, “I like my freckles” or “I think they’re cool.”
It’s true that you have no control over your freckles, but one thing you
can—and should—control is your exposure to the sun, which can cause
a different kind of freckles and sunburn, too. Use a sunblock with an SPF
of 30 or higher, and stay out of the sun in the middle of the day to avoid
damaging your fair skin. Wearing a hat with a brim that shades your face
is also a good idea.
Dear American Girl,
I blush all the time, which is already embarrassing, but I
have a friend who laughs at me whenever it happens, and
that makes it 10 times worse. How can I stop blushing, and
how can I get her to stop teasing me?
Red Face
Blushing is your body’s way of reacting to stress. Some people sweat,
some people shake, some people (like you) blush. And as you already
know, when someone points out your blushing, it only makes your
cheeks burn brighter. The next time your friend laughs, try saying, “I
feel even more embarrassed when you point it out. I wish you wouldn’t
do that.” Let her know that the friendliest thing she can do is ignore
your flushed face and change the subject. That will give you a chance
to cool your hot cheeks by taking lots of deep breaths or splashing
them with cold water.
Dear