The class was in one of those tiny, windowless portable classrooms and the teacher said it really smelled. I was a bit surprised, but I didn't doubt it. But what some parents overlook is that months before the transformation to adulthood begins, adolescents need to make changes in their hygiene habits. Adolescents can be oblivious to the fact that when puberty begins to change their bodies, they need to take care of their body more like an adult, says Jessica B. Gillooly, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Ca. Months before puberty begins, the flow of hormones increases.
Sweat glands produce more sweat.
Sebaceous glands in the skin secrete oil, trapping bacteria. Parents should take a proactive approach. If you help your teen make hygiene changes and explain it to him in a knowledgeable, factual way, there's less of a chance that the teen will feel gross or dirty and more of a chance that you're giving him the tools he needs to build good habits for the rest of his life. Topics like how to use deodorant and the importance of hand washing seem to have fallen by the wayside. It's up to parents to step in deodorant in hand and show their children what to do.