What is Dry Brushing the Skin and What are the Benefits?

Before I started studying detoxing and cleansing, I had never heard about the practice of dry brushing. This practice is highly recommended when cleansing but can also be beneficial as part of your hygiene practice. SO what is it, and what are the benefits?

What is Dry Brushing?

Dry Brushing is brushing the skin’s surface with a brush, typically with a long handle, to be able to get those hard-to-reach areas, such as the back. The brush typically has non-synthetic, somewhat hard bristles that will help to unclog pores and excrete toxins that can be stored in the skin. It is also great for stimulating lymph and reducing cellulite. They can be found online or in health stores. I have this one, which works great!

The Benefits

So let’s talk about the benefits of dry brushing. It has been a practice of Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and is believed to:

• Exfoliating the skin – the skin cells on your body’s surface die and by removing those dead skin cells, the surface of the skin becomes exfoliated, removing dirt and other substances that may be trapped in our pores.
• Helping the body detox– our skin is the largest organ of the body. Even though it is meant for protection, it is also meant for a point of excretion. By removing the dead skin cells, you are opening the pores and allowing toxins to excrete effectively. The practice of dry brushing becomes an essential action to take when cleansing and detoxing, so that we may open this channel for elimination.
• Increasing circulation and energy – the brushing action helps to stimulate blood flow, which is why it is so important to brush toward your heart, to increase blood flow back to the heart,
• Stimulating the lymphatic system– your lymphatic system is very important, as it filters out toxins and helps to fight infection. When we have a build-up of toxins, the lymphatic system becomes overworked, and essentially backed up. By dry brushing and allowing toxins to be excreted via the skin, we help the lymphatic system to flow more freely, ultimately strengthening our ability to fight infection and lessen the chance of becoming sick from viruses, etc.
• Helping to break down cellulite– This could be an added bonus for sure. There is some literature out there that suggests that the practice of dry brushing may indeed decrease the appearance of cellulite.  

How to Dry Brush

To get started with the practice of dry brushing, follow these simple steps.

1. Undress and stand in your tub or shower. Do not wet your skin.
2. Begin brushing your skin by starting at your feet and working your way up, using long sweeping motions toward the area of your heart. This assists with good blood return toward your heart.
3. Brush several times in each area of the body, overlapping as you move up.
4. Careful to be more mindful of those more sensitive areas. Your skin will become less sensitive to it, the more you brush.
5. Once your entire body has been brushed, it’s time to shower. If you can, try to alternate between the highest temperature and the coolest temperature that you can tolerate.
6. After getting out of the shower, dry off and slather on some with organic moisturizers, such as coconut oil or shea butter.
7. Continue to dry brush daily when cleansing and detoxing, as it will help remove toxins through the skin. Maintain practice by brushing 2-3 times per week.

Not only will dry brushing have these health benefits but will also keep your skin feeling smooth and looking radiant. Give it a try! Happy brushing!