Dear herekdarless,

Yes, it's normal to have under-arm hair at 13 — and it's also normal not to have under-arm hair at 13.

Puberty doesn't happen all at once — it happens in stages. So a girl or guy may show some signs of puberty at an early age (like breasts beginning to grow or growing under-arm hair or a voice that's starting to crack), but may not show other signs of puberty until she or he is much older (like getting a period or growing facial hair). It can take up to 20 years of age for all the changes that happen during puberty to take place.

Some people develop under-arm hair earlier than others, and there are other differences. Some women and men have more under-arm hair than others. For some people, it's very thick, and in others it is so thin that it's barely noticeable.

All of these differences depend on the characteristics kids inherit from their parents. And they are all very normal, thick or thin, coarse or fine. A lot of women in the U.S. shave the hair under their arms. Many don't. And these different preferences are normal, too.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.