#hrt really is puberty 2.0

[leihaddock]

BRAIN WOULD YOU PLEASE DECIDE

If you decide to go full imposter syndrome, why dysphoria

Why dysphoria from binding and from not binding (for slightly different reasons but still)

If hormones why more dysphoria than before

Why imposter syndrome when sure

Why physical recoiling from being called a cishet woman when you keep screaming „but what if I’m just pretending“

I am not pretending. I am a trans guy. I am a trans man. I am comfortable with that. Stop being annoying, brain

[velvetvexations]

I'm here to spread some trans solidarity and positivity. My roommate and I are both on hrt in different directions right now (she's on E and I'm on T) so we've been doing a bunch of swapping clothes and helping each other figure out this wierd puberty 2.0 shit, like she offered to show me how to shave when/if I start growing facial hair. She'll also be my official sister-in-law in a few months when she marries my (also trans) sibling, and her uncle who's gay and a priest is going to officiate the wedding so it'll be extra queer.

That's the fucking coolest, I'm really happy for you! Thank you for sharing with me, I love hearing this so much. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[sa2chaogarden]

They aren't kidding, hrt really is puberty 2.0

No time for emotional dysregulation, king. Your tummy is getting hairier.

[birdkoskincare]

Hi, sorry if you've already answered this, but do you have any recommendations for the acne experienced by trans guys when they go on testosterone? I want to go on T, but I pick at my skin when I'm stressed (which is... All the time bc I'm a university student) so I'm really worried about potential acne.

hey there! so, this is definitely something that should be part of your conversation with your doctor about going on T. i’ve actually come across some review papers during my research on acne for my dissertation that discuss the case of trans patients, both those on estrogen and those on testosterone. while trans women on hrt have the skincare advantage of technically being on one of the anti-acne treatment routes (the one i use, for instance, via my birth control pill), trans guys unfortunately have to deal with the downsides of androgens, which stimulate oil glands and inflammatory processes that are known to worsen acne. and, of course, hormonal treatments are right out the window, so what are we left with?

for mild cases of acne: skin care can and does help; while it may not outright cure acne, it can minimize its impact on your quality of life, make you more comfortable in your own skin, and put you in the right mindset to reduce stress picking. also, prescription-strength spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide and the like.

for moderate acne: topical antibiotic creams and retinoids, which don’t have systemic side effects, can be very effective. retinoids or a combo of both are preferable to just antibiotics, due to the constant increase of antibiotic resistances, but your doctor can help you figure out what’s best for you. also, all of the above.

for severe acne: systemic (oral) antibiotics and/or retinoids. i know tret sucks, but, much like T, it can be a life-changer, and unless you have other counter-indications you should be able to take it. note that your skin will get extra crusty, so picking may become a lot more tempting (personal experience here), but it’ll get to the root of the problem. again, the above solutions still also apply here, and a good skincare routine can help reduce the crustiness and picking.

in any scenario: consider looking for a therapist that offers cognitive behavioural therapy; it can be quite useful for stuff like skin picking, and it’ll help you manage stress in healthy ways!

you’re essentially gonna go through puberty 2.0, so cut yourself some slack. puberty is almost never a fun ride, but feeling at home in your own skin is worth it. you do have options to maintain its health as you transition. be sure to discuss all these options with your healthcare providers so that you know what to do if the going gets rough acne-wise, and know that i’m rooting for you! best of luck!

p.s. — if there are any other trans men who follow me and can offer insights or resources for anon to explore, please go right ahead! this is solely my POV as a cis woman and science nerd, but firsthand accounts would be incredibly valuable for anyone in this circumstance.

[ivabellini]

Like on #Instagram #foto: https://instagr.am/p/CEmoMcmnnv2/ | Posted @withregram • @rawjewlz Felt nostalgic when I came across the first dress I ever bought. Hadn't worn it in ages, so I figured it give it a go. It's been 2 years since I wore it with any kind of regularity... back when I didn't know how to tuck, makeup was really rough and took forever, unshaven legs stuffed into black tights, silicone breast forms slapped right against my chest in an ill-fitting bra, itchy wig draped over my head (wow, can hair really feel this long and gratifying?)... . It was a rough ensemble, but it gave me hope. It showed me a glimpse of a better future. Now, sitting on the other end of that timeline, I can say it was worth the effort and the patience. . Puberty 2.0 is brutal. You do it in adulthood when you are expected to have your shot together and rather than it taking years, you have to learn things in months, sometimes weeks. I think it's all the newness that makes the time fly by, looking back. I can barely remember day-to-day life, pre-transition. It feels like an entirely separate life. But much of the cast has remained the same, and for that I am forever grateful. . Have courage, be visible when you can, and know that there is a brighter future ahead. 💖 Jewlz . Ps: tell me about something nostalgic you've experienced recently . . #floral #floraldress #transvengers #trans #transgender #transwoman #transgirl #thisiswhattranslookslike #wontbeerased #mtf #hrt #transisbeautiful #girlslikeus #wewillnotbeerased #outandproud #relentlessoptimism #transvisibility #transpositivity #euphoria #gendereuphoria #queer #tbt #throwbackthursday #ootd #jewlzstories #foto

[sagehaubitze]

🏳️‍🌈TWO YEAR TESTOSTERONAVERSARY🏳️‍🌈

Hot damn it’s already been two years since I started HRT, puberty 2.0 has been a wild ride so far. It’s great dealing with stuff like:

- Getting weird looks regardless of which bathroom you choose to go in and not really wanting to be in either one.

- Being either fetishized or outright rejected with very little in-between.

- Feeling ostracized from places you once felt comfortable in.

- Society not knowing which binary gender-standard to hold you to, so you get held to both.

- ~Health issues~ (Watching cholesterol, monitoring risk of stroke, my ovaries hurt every single fucking day, ACNE HELL.)

- Working through a fuckload of backlogged trauma to be semi sort of okay-ish with suddenly having a sex drive for the first time in your life (still not really okay with it).

- STILL being called a girl and questioning why you even jumped through all the hoops and bullshit to go through all this, especially on those days where it happens when you feel like you were passing super well.

But no, seriously, my life has improved tenfold since I started taking testosterone. I really do feel more like.. me. My mood is so much more stable than it was pre-T, my depression has significantly improved, I don’t feel as gross when I look at my body (sometimes) because the body fat redistribution has been so pronounced. I carry myself differently, I’ve cultivated a little confidence and self-worth, I am finally, *finally* becoming comfortable with myself. Some days, some rare few days, I even feel... good?

Plus there’s all the cool fun little things that bring me joy, like.. my arm hair used to be blonde and thin, and now it’s much darker and longer and that’s not something anybody else would ever notice but to me it feels like WOO HELL YEAH WEREWOLF TRANSFORMATION. And my friends can make fun of my puberty 2.0 voice cracks. And learning new shaving techniques without a mentor/father figure/anybody has been a trip.

So yeah. It’s been a long, *long* two years. It’s definitely been worth it so far though. (plus I get to celebrate it during Pride month so that’s a nice bonus too.)

[dragonatthedinnertable]

So, I have not been having a good week.

I have been tired all week, because Daylight Savings, and puberty 2.0 kicking in. Like, energy-drink-required tired.

My endocrinologist told me that my estrogen levels have fallen since I started HRT. Why & how? He didn't know, and offered only the vaguest of guesses.

Last night's Phoenix meet-up was mostly a Cards Against Humanity clone, so there was no "group" really, and I felt isolated at the one place I go to feel connected.

My doctor appointment was late. This, after I'd shown up early.

My queue at the supermarket was the slowest by far, and I felt like discorporalising.

I wandered all through The Warehouse, and didn't find what I was after. Those are not small stores.

I grabbed the wrong size of underwear, and neglected to get a receipt.

My dinner takes twice as long as expected to arrive.

All with the effect that I'm too tired and shitty-feeling to go to board games, even though this week it's just around the corner.

I've been looking forward to these weeknight events, as a warm break from the exhausting monotony of work. But I'm too exhausted by said monotony to enjoy them, and I just want to cry.