Dry bristle brushing: love for your largest organ
Dry Skin Brushing and How it Works
It can be really hard to struggle with skin issues, stretch marks, and loose skin, but a natural remedy that might be your new best friend is dry skin brushing. This ancient Ayurvedic technique uses a dry bristle brush on different areas of the skin, preferably on a daily basis.
Dry skin brushing is simple. Use a non-synthetic or natural bristle brush all over your body to remove dry skin. This brushing technique is done with no lotion, soaps, or water. You simply brush the body gently, making sure to get every part of your body, and then take a shower afterwards. It is considered to be a more natural and milder form of exfoliation than using over-the-counter or chemical exfoliating methods that can actually cut or damage the skin.
The main tool of dry skin brushing is the brush itself. That's it. You need to use something with soft, natural bristles. Synthetic bristles can cause damage to the skin and may be too harsh.
There are several benefits to dry skin brushing. One of the main benefits is, of course, the removal of dry skin from the body. Some other benefits include the reduction of cellulite and the ability to get circulation in your body moving at a pace that helps you produce new skin cells and keeps your blood circulating properly. It can also be a relaxing part of your self-care routine, and help if you are having a sensory overload or if you need a calming feeling to help you reduce the stress from your day.
Another of the key benefits of dry brushing occurs to the lymphatic system. This is vital to wellbeing, as this system helps remove cellular waste. The dry brushing technique helps open the cells and the system to cycling the waste out and to rebuilding the skin and cellular system. It helps prevent blockage in this system as well. Think of it as opening up blocked pores and making sure that things are cycling out properly and allowing the area to be cleaned properly as well.
Poor circulation can cause a number of problems with the skin, including a build up of dry skin cells and a buildup of fat in certain areas. The increase in circulation that is caused by the dry brushing technique can help stimulate your cells, just like with the lymphatic system. This increased circulation helps with the removal of metabolic waste from the body, which can help the skin distribute natural oils, making the skin softer and smoother over time without the need for lotions with potentially harmful chemicals and ingredients.
Here are the basic steps for how to dry skin brush and to get the most from your brushing routine. Get in the shower, without the water on. You want to be in a place where the dry skin is contained and can be removed from the area easily. You will also be showering right after the dry skin brushing in order to remove the extra skin that the brush may not have removed. It will also serve as a method to clean the pores and rejuvenate the cells. If you do not want to shower, you can choose to take a bath instead. Brush your entire body, starting from the outer limbs toward the heart. Aim to move the blood toward the heart, except for the stomach area, where we want to encourage downward motion for elimination. Brush the stomach in a clockwise circle and end the stroke downward. For sensitive areas of the body, use a lighter stroke, but do not avoid them. Seek to remove the dry skin from every area of your body to keep your skin cells moving and to keep the skin health in good standing.
Look for a simple soft bristle body brush, as well as a smaller bristle brush for the face,like the ones found below. Enjoy this simple, but effective addition to your self-care routine, knowing that you are getting on board with your body’s mission to cleanse and renew every day.