Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing
Think way back to your high school biology class, you will remember learning that the skin is the largest organ of the body. It’s one of the most important organs of elimination. Through sweating, we get rid of excess heat and toxins. That’s why saunas are so great! Have you heard the saying, “sweat it out”? It’s estimated that one-third of the daily impurities are eliminated through the skin. This is why some people have a weird smell. You need to sweat every day to help the body detox. The skin is an indicator of the body’s health. It shows signs of imbalances and deficiencies. Have a bad night of eating and indulging and it shows up on your face!! Can you say aging and breakouts??
How can dry brushing the skin be a part of a healthy lifestyle? It is actually an old technique and it aids in the detoxification process.
Let’s look at some benefits of dry brushing.
- It stimulates the lymphatic system by helping the lymph flow back into circulation. Remember again from biology class, the body has two sets of vessels; the circulatory system and the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is kind of like the “sewage system” of the body. It’s not connected to a pump to keep the fluid moving up towards the heart so it relies on muscle contraction. Along with exercising to squeeze the fluid against gravity towards the heart, dry brushing the skin is another great way to get the fluid moving up. One of the functions of the lymphatic system is to remove toxins and waste from the cells. As blood flows through the arteries, then to the capillaries, fluid leaves the circulatory system carrying to the cells, nutrients and oxygen. Cells are bathed in this fluid called interstitial fluid. Cells excrete waste and debris and it hangs out in the fluid until it’s picked up. About 90% of the fluid re-collects on the venous side of the capillaries. Excess interstitial fluid, with all of the waste it contains, is collected by the lymphatic vessels, carried to the hundreds of lymph nodes where it is filtered, then returned to the circulatory system at a dump site near the heart. If you have a stagnant lymph system, fluid can build up causing edema. Dry brushing helps move this fluid along to get the toxins out!
- It helps reduce the appearance of cellulite! Cellulite is where toxins accumulate and cause the fascia to stick together giving you that “lumpy” appearance. Dry brushing helps unstick the fascia so the lymph with toxins can move along reducing the lumpiness.
- It helps shed dead skin cells and encourages cell renewal. This gives your skin a smoother, brighter, more toned look.
- It’s energizing! Stress releasing!
So how do you dry brush?
- Start with a natural bristle brush made specifically for dry brushing.
- The best time to do this is before you shower. You can do this once or twice a day.
- Start with your feet and you will brush towards the heart. Brush the bottom of the foot on one side, then the top, with firm, but not too hard, strokes. I like to use straight strokes but some use circle motions.
- Continue around the ankle and up the leg making short, straight strokes. I like to use about 10 strokes on the front of the lower leg then over the calf. Work your way over the knee then do the upper leg. Do the other leg.
- Brush upwards on your stomach and your low back as far as you can reach. Brush everything to the heart.
- Do your hands and precede up the arm towards the heart. Brush your armpits, pulling everything to the heart.
- Be gentle on sensitive skin around the chest and breast.
