If your teenage son has developed swelling or puffiness around the chest, you are almost certainly worried, and he probably is too. The good news is that breast tissue developing during puberty is extremely common in boys, and in the large majority of cases it settles on its own without any treatment at all.
This guide explains why pubertal gynecomastia happens, how common it really is, when it typically resolves, how to tell it apart from ordinary chest fat, and crucially, when it is worth speaking to a GP. It also covers something parents often underestimate: the emotional side, and how to support a teenager through it.
Important note before we start: this article is general information, not medical advice. Every teenager is different. If you have any concern at all about your son's chest development, the right first step is always a GP appointment. A doctor can examine him properly and put your mind at rest, which is something an article never can.
What Is Pubertal Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the medical term for the development of glandular breast tissue in males. When it happens during puberty it is sometimes called pubertal or adolescent gynecomastia. It usually shows up as a firm, slightly tender disc of tissue directly under one or both nipples, and the chest can look puffy or swollen.
It is driven by hormones. During puberty, a boy's body produces a surge of both testosterone and oestrogen, and the balance between the two shifts around constantly as he develops. Oestrogen stimulates breast tissue, and a temporary tilt towards oestrogen, or simply a lag before testosterone catches up, is enough to trigger some breast tissue growth. Once hormone levels stabilise, the tissue usually shrinks back down.
In other words, pubertal gynecomastia is most often a normal, passing feature of an otherwise completely healthy puberty. It is not a sign that something has gone wrong. The NHS guidance on gynaecomastia describes it as common and confirms that when it is caused by puberty it usually goes away by itself over time.
How Common Is It?
Far more common than most parents realise. Studies consistently estimate that somewhere between half and two thirds of adolescent boys experience some degree of gynecomastia during puberty, and published research on adolescent gynecomastia notes reported prevalence as high as around 65 percent. It most often appears between the ages of around 12 and 14, roughly in the middle of puberty.
That figure is worth sitting with, because it reframes the situation entirely. This is not a rare medical problem that has singled out your son. It is something the majority of boys go through to some extent, even if many never mention it and it is never visible enough for anyone else to notice. Plenty of his classmates are very likely experiencing the same thing.
When Does It Usually Go Away?
This is the question most parents want answered, and the honest answer is reassuring. In the majority of cases, pubertal gynecomastia resolves on its own within around six months to two years of first appearing. For most boys it has fully settled by the time puberty finishes, often by age 17 or 18.
There is no treatment needed to make this happen. The body simply completes puberty, testosterone levels settle into their adult range, and the temporary tissue growth reverses. For this reason, doctors very often recommend a period of watchful waiting rather than any active treatment, particularly when the gynecomastia is mild and recent.
A smaller number of cases persist longer. When breast tissue is still present after puberty has otherwise finished, generally meaning it has lasted beyond a couple of years or is still there at 18 or 19, it becomes less likely to resolve fully on its own. That is one of the clearer reasons to involve a GP, which the next section covers.
When To Speak To A GP
Most pubertal gynecomastia needs nothing more than time and reassurance. However, there are several situations where a GP appointment is genuinely worthwhile, both to rule things out and to give your son a proper, professional answer. Speak to a GP if:
The chest changes are causing your son significant distress, embarrassment, or are affecting his confidence, mood, or willingness to do normal activities like swimming or PE. Emotional impact is a valid medical reason to seek help, not a minor concern.
The breast tissue is painful beyond mild tenderness, is growing rapidly, or is unusually large.
There is a lump that feels hard, is fixed in place, sits off to one side rather than centred under the nipple, or there is any discharge from the nipple or dimpling of the skin. These features are uncommon and usually turn out to be nothing, but they should always be checked.
The gynecomastia has appeared before puberty has properly started, or has persisted well beyond the end of puberty.
Your son is taking any medication, supplement, or other substance, or has any other symptoms such as unusually slow development. Some medications and some underlying health conditions can contribute to breast tissue development, and a GP can assess whether anything beyond normal puberty is involved.
Seeing a GP is not an overreaction. Even when the answer is the expected one, that you simply wait, hearing it from a doctor who has examined your son carries a reassurance that nothing else does. The NHS also advises seeing a GP about breast changes that include skin changes, a lump, or nipple discharge, so those signs are always worth getting checked promptly.
Gynecomastia Or Just Chest Fat?
One common source of confusion is the difference between true gynecomastia and what is often called pseudogynecomastia, which is simply excess fat in the chest rather than glandular tissue. They can look similar but they are not the same thing.
True gynecomastia involves firm glandular tissue, felt as a rubbery or firm disc directly behind the nipple, and it is often slightly tender. Pseudogynecomastia is soft fatty tissue, spread more evenly across the chest, with no firm disc and no tenderness, and it tends to track with overall body weight.
The two can also occur together. The distinction matters because it affects what, if anything, helps: fatty chest tissue tends to reduce with overall weight loss and general fitness, whereas true glandular tissue does not shrink with diet or exercise. A GP can usually tell the difference with a simple examination. If you would like to read more on this, our guide on gynecomastia versus chest fat goes into the distinction in more detail.
Can Anything Make It Resolve Faster?
It is natural to want to do something rather than just wait, so it is worth being clear about what genuinely helps and what does not.
For true glandular gynecomastia, there is no diet, exercise routine, supplement, or over-the-counter product that will dissolve the tissue. Glandular tissue does not respond to those things, and any product marketed to teenagers as a way to eliminate gynecomastia should be treated with scepticism. The realistic options are time, which works for most boys, or medical assessment for the minority where it persists.
Where there is a fatty component, maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can reduce the fatty part of the chest and improve how the chest looks overall. This is worth encouraging anyway as part of general teenage health, but it is best framed as looking after his body rather than as a fix for the chest, so it does not add pressure or feed body-image anxiety.
For persistent cases that do not resolve, surgery to remove glandular tissue exists and is effective, but it is generally only considered once puberty is complete and the situation has been stable for some time. It is firmly a conversation for a doctor, well down the line, and not something to raise with a younger teenager whose gynecomastia may well still resolve on its own. Our guide on considering gynecomastia surgery covers that path, though for most teenagers it will not be relevant.
Supporting Your Son Emotionally
The physical side of pubertal gynecomastia is usually the easy part, because it tends to sort itself out. The emotional side is where parents can make the biggest difference.
Adolescence is already a self-conscious time, and a teenager who feels his chest looks different can become genuinely anxious about it. He may start avoiding swimming, changing for PE, or removing his top, and he may not say a word about why. Withdrawal from those activities is often the first clue a parent picks up on.
A few things that help
Take it seriously without making it a crisis. Dismissing it with "it's nothing, don't worry" can feel like being ignored. Acknowledging it calmly, explaining that it is common and usually temporary, and offering to see a GP together strikes a better balance.
Tell him how common it is. The fact that most boys experience this to some degree is genuinely comforting, and it counters the isolating feeling that something is wrong with him specifically.
Let him lead on how much it is discussed. Some boys want to talk it through, others want it handled quietly with minimal fuss. Both are fine.
Watch for the bigger signs. If his mood, friendships, school, or willingness to leave the house are being affected, that is a reason to see a GP sooner, and to mention the emotional impact specifically. Doctors take that seriously.
Where clothing can help in the meantime
While the underlying gynecomastia resolves, some teenagers feel more comfortable simply with the way clothing sits. Looser tops, layering, and darker or patterned fabrics all draw less attention to the chest, and our guide to clothing for gynecomastia covers practical styling that works for everyday wear.
Some older teenagers also choose to wear a compression top under their clothing for a flatter, more even chest line, which a number of them find helpful for confidence on days when they feel self-conscious. If you do consider this, treat it as an optional confidence aid while puberty runs its course, not as a treatment for the gynecomastia itself, and it is sensible to mention it to your GP first, particularly for a younger or still-developing teenager. The priority remains a proper medical assessment and reassurance, with comfort measures as a secondary, entirely optional step.
The Takeaway For Parents
If there is one message to hold on to, it is this: pubertal gynecomastia is common, it is usually harmless, and for most boys it goes away on its own within a couple of years. It is a normal part of puberty for a large share of teenage boys, not a sign that something is wrong.
Your job as a parent is straightforward. Get it checked by a GP so you both have a clear, professional answer and anything less common is ruled out. Reassure your son that this is ordinary and temporary. Keep an eye on how he is coping emotionally, and treat that side as seriously as the physical side. Beyond that, in most cases, time does the rest.
Common Questions From Parents
Is gynecomastia in teenage boys normal?
Yes. It is estimated that between half and two thirds of boys experience some degree of gynecomastia during puberty, most often between ages 12 and 14. For the majority it is a normal, temporary part of puberty caused by shifting hormone levels.
Will my son's gynecomastia go away on its own?
In most cases, yes. Pubertal gynecomastia typically resolves within around six months to two years and has usually settled by the end of puberty. A minority of cases persist longer, which is one reason a GP review is worthwhile if it lasts beyond a couple of years.
Can exercise get rid of it?
It depends on what the chest tissue is. True glandular gynecomastia does not respond to exercise or diet. If the chest is fuller because of fatty tissue, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce that, but it is best framed as general health rather than a targeted fix.
Should I take my teenage son to the doctor about it?
A GP visit is worthwhile if the gynecomastia is causing distress, if there is pain, rapid growth, a hard or off-centre lump, nipple discharge, or skin changes, if it appeared before puberty or has persisted well beyond it, or if he takes any medication or has other symptoms. Even when the answer is simply to wait, a professional examination is reassuring.
Could it be a sign of something serious?
In the vast majority of teenage cases it is not. It is usually ordinary hormonal change during puberty. Certain features, such as a hard fixed lump, swelling on one side only, or nipple discharge, are uncommon and should always be checked by a doctor, but they most often turn out to be nothing serious. A GP can examine your son and advise properly.