Can you recall the last time you brushed your skin? Most people keep meticulous track of how often they perform their daily hygiene. Brushing your teeth and hair is a major part of any routine, but what about brushing your skin?
After all, the skin is the largest organ of your body, so you need to take care of it properly.
Learning how to dry brush your skin is simple and quick. Dry brushing really helped when I was at my sickest with mold toxicity. I quickly became addicted to this unique process for my mold toxicity treatment and now try to practice it every morning.
The simple act of pampering your skin with a natural bristle body brush takes only a few minutes, but it helps with many different conditions by:
Improving symptoms associated with toxic mold exposure
Moving lymph
Increasing energy
Improving cellulite
And supporting the body’s ability to detox
Damaged skin can easily be treated with a quick dry brushing instead of expensive creams and lotions. Read one to learn how to take advantage of this simple routine.
History of Dry Brushing
Many people believe that dry brushing is simply the latest in a series of health-conscious fads. However, this simple technique has been around for centuries and stems from ancient Indian and Ayurvedic traditions.
It has been around for more than 5,000 years, making it one of the longest-standing traditions for natural health. Ayurvedic practitioners sometimes refer to it as garshana, and it is often used to promote better blood circulation at the start of the day.
Other cultures have incorporated the use of dry brushing the skin into their rituals and traditions as well. Modern society has adopted the practice with the sale of natural bristle body brushes with long and short handles to help you prevent and treat various illnesses.
Once you see all of the benefits of dry brushing your skin, you will definitely want to try it out for yourself. Fortunately, the act of brushing your skin is relatively simple. The first thing you need to do is purchase the appropriate type of brush.
Dry Brushing Technique
Whether you are using dry brushing for mold toxicity or improved cellulite, the technique is very simple. It requires little effort on your part and follows a simple pattern.
Start at your feet or hands, brushing upward with long strokes toward the heart. Many people believe in brushing each area 5-10 times to gain the maximum effects for the lymphatic system, cellulite, and detox purposes. But if you are in a hurry, do what you can!
Move onto your stomach, armpits, and back. On these areas, you will move the brush in a clockwise motion. Pay special attention to the groin creases and the area below/lateral to the breasts.
Your face should be the last place you brush. Always switch to a softer brush for your face if you have one available.
When finished, your skin should be light pink without pain or irritation. If you experience pain and irritation, you need to use a softer brush or apply less pressure.
You can use dry brushing every morning to help activate the body and get your blood flowing before your mug of hot lemon water. Others prefer to dry brush just before they take a shower in the morning. However, showering is not required after dry brushing. You can also just brush before you get dressed for the day.
Wet brushing with castor oil
This is something I just learned about but am excited to try! If you have skin that is flakey, saggy or lumpy, this is for you.
Basically you apply organic castor oil to the skin before using a similar dry brush technique. If you are working on your belly, use a clockwise motion around the navel.
Make sure to wipe up castor oil after use because it is staining. I recommend Queen of Thrones brand - they have a pack just for wet brushing (see Castor Oil Lymphatic Dry Brush Kit)- and I shared their video below.
The Benefits of Dry Brushing
Once you understand just how to go about dry brushing your skin, you need to know all of the potential benefits. Here are just a few of the advantages of this approach to natural health.
Promoting Lymph Movement and Detoxification
Dry brushing can help your body detox naturally through the transportation of a substance known as lymph, which is transported by your lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is a crucial part of your body, but most people pay little attention to it until something goes awry. This part of the body is designed to remove metabolic waste and toxins from your cells, including the mold toxins that made me quite ill. When it isn’t functioning properly, you will have a buildup of wastes and toxins in the bloodstream. These items can make you extremely sick over time, and it is important to detox from them as often as possible.
Lymph is a very important fluid that contains white blood cells and carries them to the rest of the body. The transportation of this fluid and the white blood cells is critical as they are responsible for fighting infections. As you age, your immune system does not function as effectively. Moving lymph around can help boost your immune system, which is what dry brushing promises to do. (2)
The lymph nodes that are responsible for the creation and storage of lymph lie just beneath the surface of your skin. Running a dry brush over your lymph nodes physically stimulates them and helps to get things moving mechanically.
Increasing Energy
Many women experience the natural benefits of dry brushing in terms of their energy levels. While the dry brushing is transporting lymph throughout the body, it is also increasing your circulation. Dry brushing the skin with upward movements toward the heart can be a great way to get your blood flowing in the right direction.
It has already been shown that increased circulation can be associated with an increase in perceived energy levels. (3)
Instead of opting for a few cups of coffee first thing in the morning, try this technique instead. Spend five to ten minutes dry brushing your skin to improve circulation of lymph, white blood cells, and other important aspects that affect your energy.
Improving Cellulite
Do you have the dimpled skin that is a telltale sign of your aging? Most women will experience the growth of cellulite in key areas of the body as the years pass by. It is relatively common to see it in the following areas:
Thighs
Hips
Buttocks
Abdomen
Developing cellulite is largely genetic and can affect just about anyone, regardless of your body weight, size, or shape. Women are tempted to spend hundreds of dollars on “miracle creams” that can lessen the visual appearance of this subcutaneous fat. However, you might be able to tackle it with a more natural approach by using the best dry brush for cellulite.
While it may not make your cellulite disappear altogether, dry brushing cellulite can definitely minimize its appearance. As you brush, the tissue tends to swell up, loosening the fat in the affected area. This gives your skin the illusion of smoothness compared to the dimpled appearance of your cellulite.
Doing so regularly can help you to minimize the appearance of your cellulite on a daily basis. However, doing it too frequently can cause irritation and damage to the skin. Be sure to use this technique sparingly, especially if you notice any adverse reactions.
Freshening the Skin
As we age, the top layer of the skin no longer clears away dead skin cells like it used to.
When you are younger, your skin doesn’t require assistance to naturally shed the dead cells that accumulate. Because the skin does not shed its dead cells as quickly when you are older, it needs a little help to turn over the dead cells. Using a dry brush to remove dead skin can help you maintain the youthful appearance that you are used to. (4)
Remember that you don’t want to dry brush your skin until it becomes red and irritated. This is a common mistake among beginners who are desperate for the exfoliation and younger-looking skin. You should see some pink on the surface of the skin but nothing more.
What Kind of Brush Should You Use?
Dry brushing your skin has many health benefits, but it’s important to get a good brush set so you can use it properly. Look for natural bristles, a long handle, and preferably a set that offers softer and firmer options for different needs.
This is an example of a set available on Amazon.
The tiny brushes can be used for the face and fingers. The round one with the nubs may be good to reserve for wet brushing.
Once you have the best dry skin brush, it is time to start brushing! Remember, you can see a visual how-to in the video at the top of the blog, or read below for specific instructions! (1)
Have you tried dry brushing before? Has it helped you? What have you noticed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of clients over her career since 2004. She is also the founder of Functional Detox Products supplements and the Author of the Ultimate Toxic Mold Recovery Guide, available on Amazon.
Get her free, 5-minute morning detox guide here.