pls help--early puberty at 7 yrs old

dear  doctor,

recently, i had my daughter (turning 8 on oct) checked by a dermatologist bec of rashes on face that wont go out , the derm said she has acne and for a child her age could mean the cause is early puberty. i also noticed that her breast is slightly developed...she is also taller than her classmates. she told  me to consult pediatrician or pedia endoctrinologist? what could be the cause ot early puberty? does she inherits it? is there a cure for it? i read on the net that if a child have this, she/he will not attain his full growth potential, if not treated. is it true? how can i help her, she's  becoming moody...she told me that she is the tallest in the class and doesn't have friend in the class because she's different..pls help!

thank you.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

While it may surprise you to hear this, for a girl starting puberty at age 8 is not regarded as outside the normal spectrum, though the majority of girls start puberty a bit later. As with your daughter, breast growth and acne are often signs of the beginning of puberty. Overall there is usually nothing to worry about in regard to her overall health. She may well be taller than her peers now, but often girls who start puberty at the early end are eventually shorter than average in the long run. You should definitely arrange an appoitment with her pediatrician. He/she can then decide if there is any need to see the endocrinologist.