Going through “the changes” the first time around was bad enough, so you can imagine our horror when we saw people on TikTok talking about “Second Puberty.”
From the first pimple to the first training bra, there is a lot about this time we wish we could forget.
Unfortunately, it appears that acne, weight gain and mood swings have returned to the spotlight of every twenty-something-year-old’s life for an encore performance.
If you haven’t come across these TikTok videos yet, the premise of the trend is women in their 20s complaining about the physical changes they are undergoing.
Some of the changes mentioned in the videos are weight gain, adult acne, hair loss, and mood swings.
However, although there are some similarities between the physical changes you go through in your 20s to those of your teenage years, you can rest assured that puberty isn’t coming back to haunt you.
Many women in their early twenties begin to panic when they start to notice their jeans getting tighter, or skin getting spottier- but try not to worry as this is completely normal.
If your jeans don’t fit anymore and it’s not your diet or fitness regime that has changed, then your hips may have widened to make child-bearing easier.
It doesn’t happen to everyone but the bodies of the general population of women will begin to prepare themselves for having a baby.
Whether getting pregnant is on your mind or not is irrelevant as these changes will happen regardless as it is scientifically what a woman’s body is “made for.”
Another factor many women don’t consider when looking at their new bodies is the lifestyle they are now living.
The majority of us are living a much more stagnant lifestyle now than that of our teen years.
Many women left behind their active lifestyle where they walked to school or ran around at their part-time jobs to sit at a desk every day at their 9-5.
Taking all of this into consideration you begin to see how futile it is to wish for the same body you had a decade ago.
It is detrimental to your mental health to idealise your teenage body just because you think you looked “better” and “skinnier” back then.
Time has moved on and you need to move on with it and accept the changes that have occurred to your body.
It is always a good thing to be healthy and fit, however, if your dream is to squeeze back into your low-waisted Abercrombie jeans then a wake-up call is needed.
You don’t stand at the school gates like Enoch Burke to try and live your old life, so why waste energy trying to look like the students?
The constant pressure to look “photo-ready” has taken its toll on this generation who feel the need to look picture-perfect at all times.
People are constantly editing their photos and using filters to make themselves appear slimmer or clear-skinned.
Nicole Granato, a certified women’s health and wellness coach has revealed in Byrdie that: “Whatever is going on inside our body reflects on the outside.”
Dermatologist Kseniya Kobets added: “Some patients have exacerbated acne due to the increased hormones in their teen years and it calms down in the 20s whereas some people can have a spike in those hormones later in life and end up having oily skin and exasperated acne.”
Many women go on birth control to clear up their skin but as we all know this can come with its own set of problems such as low moods and weight gain.
Another dermatologist, Dr. Howard Sobel, swears by the use of retinol to fix all skin problems.
Dr Sobel said: “Retinol is the gold standard of preventative and anti-ageing care and should be started as early as possible,”
“Begin using it every other day for a week, and then daily in the evenings. This multi-tasking ingredient is magic to the skin for its ability to boost collagen, increase skin hydration, defend against acne, and fine line formation.”
Another issue the doctors tackle in the article is that of hair loss which is a huge problem facing women in their twenties.
Dr Konets explained: “Hormones can cause hair loss early in life and later in life, depending on the interplay of genetics and environment, and health of the body,”
“Optimal lifestyle changes, as well as vitamin D supplementation, is important for hair loss,” the doctor explained.
To achieve ultimate health for your hair, skin, nails and body, a good diet and exercise are essential.
Nicole Granato recommends eating “whole grains, healthy fats, plant protein 90% of the time, and consider cutting dairy,”
However, the Wellness Coach reassured readers: “This does not mean you have to be a vegan, but you want to ensure you are eating enough and well enough to support your body.”
Being a woman in this day and age feels like you are under a magnifying glass and constantly under scrutiny.
When we first experienced puberty there were no iPhones or constant photo opportunities, so it felt like there was much more breathing space to look imperfect.
Nowadays it feels like you can’t go for a coffee with a friend without posing for an Instagram Story.
I think it is a universal feeling to want to show off how great your life is on social media, but it is a dangerous game.
If you are constantly showcasing your job that looks great on the outside but has you working every hour God sends behind the scenes, then you may feel the pressure to stay in it.
If you are getting loads of compliments on your toned stomach underneath your Santorini photo dump, but you spent your life on MyFitnessPal leading up to the trip – then is that such a good thing?
Being happy with your life in real life is what matters, not getting validation from people online.
Focus on your future and stop looking into the past – let low-rise jeans and bandage dresses rest peacefully in the past alongside your teenage body.
We can look back fondly on our past and compliment ourselves on how gorgeous we were, but don’t forget to be kind to yourself now too.
Remember – you probably complained about yourself back then too, so time to cut the vicious cycle!
Changing as you age is a totally normal aspect of life and something many people don’t even get the privilege to experience – so count your blessings and work on self-love!
