Premature adrenarche is when kids start some parts of puberty early but don't fully go through puberty. In premature adrenarche (ah-druh-NAR-kee), kids begin to grow pubic and/or armpit hair at an early age (younger than 7 for girls and younger than 9 for boys). They also might get adult body odor, acne, and oilier skin and hair. It happens because the adrenal glands (located on top of the kidneys) start making some puberty hormones sooner than they should. Premature adrenarche is considered normal and doesn't need medical treatment.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations for:

• Taking your child for any studies or lab tests.
• Taking your child to see any specialists, such as an endocrinologist (a doctor who treats growth and hormone problems).
• When to follow up.

Help your child cope:

• Talk to your child about why their body is changing.
• Understand that your child may be upset that they look different from other kids their age. Talk to them about how this is a normal way to develop. Ask if they want to see a counselor to talk about their feelings.
• Your child may want to:
  • shower and wash their hair more often to help with oiliness
  • wear deodorant to help with body odor 
  • shave unwanted hair

• You notice new signs of puberty such as:
  • a growth spurt
  • getting breasts or their period (in females)
  • a deeper voice or growth of penis or testicles (in males) 
• Your child:
  • seems sad, anxious, or depressed
  • is getting in trouble at school or doesn't want to go to school
  • seems to be gaining weight faster than expected

Why don't kids with premature adrenarche go through all the changes of puberty? Other hormones are needed for kids to go through puberty fully. So kids with premature adrenarche don't get other signs of puberty, such as getting their period, having a growth spurt, or having growth of their penis and testicles until closer to the usual age.

What causes premature adrenarche? It's not clear why the adrenal glands start making puberty hormones early.

Can premature adrenarche cause any problems? Most kids with premature adrenarche go on to finish puberty at a normal (although slightly earlier than average) age. Some studies show that they may be more likely to be of a higher weight or develop other hormone problems as adults.