Daily, you brush your hair and your teeth, but do you brush your skin too? We often overlook the importance of maintaining our largest organ, the skin. Including dry skin brushing in your hygiene routine is simple and inexpensive.
Here are 4 health benefits to dry brushing your skin.
1) Exfoliating
Dry brushing works by removing the top layer of dead skin cells to smooth, brighten and soften your skin improving its overall appearance.
2) Detoxing
As mentioned before, our skin is the largest organ and one of its primary responsibilities is to detoxify. Dry brushing helps to accelerate the natural detoxifying process of our skin by clearing and preventing clogged pores. Additional benefits of dry brushing are to help prevent ingrown hairs that result in uncomfortable and unsightly razor burn or other bumps that might appear on the skin.
3) Enhances Circulation
Dry brushing stimulates blood circulation to the skin, which assists in the removal of toxins. By bringing more blood to the surface of the skin, you are promoting new cell growth that results in healthier skin.
4) Stimulates the Lymphatic System
The benefit of stimulating your lymphatic system by dry brushing is best explained by Dr. Mercola on Mercola.com: In your body, your lymphatic system is the system responsible for eliminating cellular waste products. Hundreds of miles of lymphatic tubules allow waste to be collected from your tissues and transported to your blood for elimination, a process referred to as lymphatic drainage.
When your lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins can build up and make you sick. Lymphatic congestion is a major factor leading to inflammation and disease. By stimulating your lymphatic system and helping it release toxins, dry skin brushing is a powerful detoxification aid.
When beginning the practice of dry brushing, go lightly so your skin can get used to the process increasing to a firmer pressure as your skin gets accustomed to the experience. Brush with even strokes or circles. Start at your extremities and brush in the direction of your heart, which aids in your circulation and lymphatic system. For example, start with the soles of your feet and brush with upward strokes or circles towards your heart. Then work your way up the body.
When you get to your abdomen brush in a circular pattern starting at the belly button and move the brush from right to left in a clockwise motion. Expand your circle size as you continue to circle the belly button. When your entire abdomen has been brushed, reverse your circle path in a counterclockwise motion reducing the size of the circle as you go around your belly button until you are back where you started.
Be sure to include your armpits in your brushing as there is a large group of lymph nodes in this area. Avoid dry brushing your face, unless you have a specific dry brush that has been designed for use on the face. Five minutes of dry brushing is sufficient, some only brush for a few minutes, but others go as long as 20 minutes or more.
When you are finished with dry brushing, shower to rinse away any lingering dead skin cells. Dry brushing is a simple habit to adopt leaving you feeling healthy and energized. Give it a try!
****Many people report sleeping better when adding dry brushing to their routine, although it is recommended that it is not done prior to bed as it can be over stimulating.
