Every guy has breast tissue with glands. But sometimes, this tissue grows bigger than usual making the chest look more noticeable.
When breast tissue gets too big, doctors call it Gynecomastia. Most people just say "Man boobs." It happens because of hormone changes, which a lot of teenage boys go through as they grow up.
In this article, we'll talk about why teens get Gynecomastia how often it happens, and what you can do about it.
Keep reading to find out more...
Do many teens have Gynecomastia?
Teenage Gynecomastia happens often starting when boys turn ten and older.
Research indicates that about 60% of boys between 12 and 16 develop Gynecomastia in one or both breasts.
However, Gynecomastia goes away on its own after some months or years.
When teens reach 17 15 percent still have Gynecomastia.
How long does teenage Gynecomastia last?
In teens, Gynecomastia can take a few months to three years to clear up.
However, this condition begins in early puberty and might disappear when a teen enters middle adolescence.
The duration of Gynecomastia also depends on the teenager's lifestyle habits
Causes of Gynecomastia in teens
The main reason for teenage Gynecomastia is the change in hormone levels testosterone and estrogen.
When hormones fluctuate higher estrogen levels lead to breast enlargement creating man boobs.
At its core pubertal Gynecomastia is a natural condition.
In some rare cases, Gynecomastia could stem from
- Drugs you can buy without a prescription
- Cancer in the lungs
- Cancer in the testicles
- Problems with the thyroid
- Issues with the kidneys
- Diseases affecting the liver
- Tumors in the pituitary gland
- Tumors in the adrenal glands
- A condition called Klinefelter's syndrome
- Using harmful substances like bhang, heroin, and steroids
Also, teens who are too heavy or carry extra weight might get Gynecomastia. This happens when fat builds up in the chest area.
People call this Pseudo Gynecomastia or fake Gynecomastia. It's not linked to growing up.
How to spot Gynecomastia in teenagers
Teenage boys might notice one or both breasts getting bigger. This condition called gynecomastia, can start as a small bump under the nipple that feels tender.
But if hormone changes aren't behind the breast growth, you might see:
- Breast pain
- Bleeding
- Fluid coming from the nipple
How do doctors spot teenage gynecomastia?
Doctors check for pubertal gynecomastia by looking at and feeling the chest area.
Your child's doctor might also ask about their health history and run some tests to make sure it's gynecomastia.
These tests could include:
- Urine tests
- Mammogram
- Blood tests to check for a hormonal imbalance
- Breast tissue biopsy (though it's uncommon, and doctors use it if the breasts show concerning signs like a discharge or pain)
How to get rid of teenage Gynecomastia
teenage Gynecomastia disappears within a few months or years. Doctors won't suggest treatment if puberty causes the breast enlargement.
However, if a doctor sees that a teen has a major hormonal imbalance, he might suggest hormone therapy.
Hormonal therapy has an influence on the body by introducing the missing hormone, which in this case is testosterone. As a result, Gynecomastia will decrease over time.
Treatment of underlying diseases
We learned earlier that certain diseases affecting organs like the liver, kidney, and thyroid can lead to Gynecomastia.
This means your doctor must address the underlying disease first to treat Gynecomastia.
The time it takes to see improvements depends on the type and severity of the disease ranging from a few weeks to months.
Stop taking alcohol and abusing drugs
, some teenagers begin drinking alcohol and using drugs. Some of them even become dependent on alcohol and drugs.
Let's say a doctor finds out that drugs like heroin or bhang are behind Gynecomastia. The first thing to do is to get the teen to quit using drugs or alcohol.
How does alcohol lead to Gynecomastia?
Alcohol harms the liver, and the liver has a key role in making estrogen.
So when it doesn't work right too much estrogen builds up in the body, which results in the growth of man boobs.
Switching medications
Gynecomastia might show up when a teenager takes medicines for problems like:
- Anxiety
- depression
- Fungal infections
- bacterial infections
- Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers)
- High blood pressure
When these issues arise, doctors adjust the medication or reduce the dosage.
Note: This doesn't mean you should stop taking your meds. Make sure you talk to a doctor first to get expert advice.
For teens who are obese or overweight and have Gynecomastia, doctors often suggest lifestyle changes. These include working out and changing eating habits. These changes help cut down body fat.
Let's explore how changing your diet and exercising can help get rid of Gynecomastia.
Exercise
Exercise has a big impact on weight loss and helps tighten chest muscles after shedding pounds.
Many exercises can help you burn fat fast. These include:
- Sprints
- Walking (if sprinting is too hard)
- Swimming
- Rowing machines
- Dumbbell pullover
- Plank to push up
- Standing cable fly
- Pushups – decline pushups
- Goblet squat
- Goblet swing
Exercising tips
Keep tabs on your progress
Check how you're doing often; this will keep you driven and help you stay focused on your goal. You can weigh yourself every two weeks.
Pay attention to form, not speed
Your main goal should be keeping perfect form when you lift weights. This stops you from getting hurt and helps you get more from your workout.
Take your time with cool-down and warm-up sessions.
Warm-ups get your muscles ready for exercise, while cool-downs help them relax. Both steps keep you safe from injuries so don't rush through them.
Change up your routine
To keep things interesting, try a different exercise each day.
Listen to your body.
Skip your workout if you're not feeling well or you're nursing an injury.
Stay patient and keep at it.
It has an impact on your results for months or even a year before you see clear changes. So keep at it and don't stop working out.
Diet shifts
What teens eat and how much can make their man boobs better or worse.
Some foods pack a lot of estrogen, which can make man boobs grow. Other foods might lead to weight gain because they're high in fat.
Here's what teens should and shouldn't eat to shrink their man boobs.
Foods to load up on:
Stuff that fights swelling
- Beans
- Oranges, lemons, and limes
- Green leafy veggies
- Berries
- Sweet potatoes
Foods with good fats
- Avocados
- Natural nuts
- Garlic
- Onions
- Raisins
- Coconut
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Egg yolk
Foods with Vitamin D
- Cereals
- Eggs
- Pork
- Mushrooms
- Caviar
- Trout
Foods to avoid
- Canned foods
- Processed foods
- Soy items like soybeans and soy milk
- Sweet foods like ice cream and candy
- Deep fried foods
- Packaged foods
Problems from Teenage Gynecomastia
Puberty Gynecomastia doesn't put teenage boys' health at risk. Still many boys with Gynecomastia face tough emotional challenges.
These boys often doubt themselves and worry too much about how they look. This can lead some teens to skip school or avoid after-school activities.
Sometimes always feeling embarrassed can make a teen depressed or very anxious.
Final word
If your teen has Gynecomastia, don't worry; the enlarged breasts will go away on their own. You can speed up this process by using the methods we talked about earlier.
What's more, you can reduce the embarrassment by purchasing Esteem Apparel Vests, which will make the Gynecomastia hard to spot.
Also, Esteem Apparel Vests are long-lasting, and your child can wear them beneath any outfit.
