Benefits of Dry Body Brushing
Have you ever heard of dry brushing? Do you know what it is and what benefits it has? Have you ever thought of including dry brushing in your skincare routine?
If not, no need to worry. We will talk about dry brushing and explain everything you need to know about it. Read this article to the end to learn more about this Ayurvedic method with several benefits and centuries-old history.
Contents
What Is Dry Brushing?
There is nothing complicated about dry brushing. All we need is a body brush with firm bristles to massage our skin gently.
Why do we do that? Because it makes our skin appear more radiant. Also, since it helps remove dead skin cells, using moisturizers for elderly skin will be more effective.
Simply put, the method involves using a brush with natural bristles and rubbing your skin in a certain pattern. The skin should be dry before getting to work. Massaging your dry skin with a body brush exfoliates the skin, scrubs off dead skin cells and helps get rid of toxins.
We have already mentioned that people have been doing dry brushing for centuries since they believe it has several benefits. Now, we are going to see what these benefits are.
Benefits of Dry Brushing
A simple method is not sufficient to take care of your skin. Nevertheless, it has its benefits, some of which are:
Exfoliating dead skin: Using a brush with firm bristles exfoliates dead skin cells and removes dirt and oil. As a result, your skin will appear more bright and soft.
Boosting energy and circulation: Sometimes, people notice red spots on their skin after dry brushing and assume it irritates skin instead of improving its condition. It is not true because the redness shows that dry brushing led to an increase in circulation in the areas of the skin.
Lymphatic stimulation: The lymphatic system moves lymph, a clear, watery fluid, into your bloodstream and enhances the body’s ability to fight off infections. The lymph nodes filter the fluids that flow through the body. Some believe that dry brushing releases toxins because it unclogs pores and increases sweating. Sweating, as you know, is a way for the body to get rid of toxins. This way, fewer toxins can pass through the lymphatic system.
Plumping the skin and breaking down cellulite: A common skin condition (especially in women) is developing cellulite. An accumulation of fat beneath the skin causes it, making the skin appear rippled. Dry brushing does not help you get rid of cellulite, but it plumps the skin for a while after and conceals cellulite.
Relieving stress: Dry brushing is a form of massage, so it relieves stress and helps you relax.
Is Dry Brushing effective?
Although dry brushing exfoliates dead skin and increases circulation, no real scientific evidence proves it gets rid of cellulite. Many dermatologists do not consider dry brushing necessary, but they do not deny its primary benefits.
Some people indeed believe dry brushing has temporarily made their cellulite appear less. However, there is no research to back this up.
How to Dry Brush Your Body?
Some people may think dry brushing is only about picking a brush and randomly rubbing it against the skin, but that is not the case.
When it comes to dry brushing, there are certain steps to follow.
First of all, make sure to choose a natural fibre brush with firm bristles and a long handle. Short-handled brushes make it hard to reach all parts of your body, especially your back.
After picking the suitable brush, follow the steps below. Notice that your skin has to be completely dry for this purpose.
- Begin brushing at your ankle and gradually moving towards your heart. Move the brush around in clockwise circles.
- In areas of thin skin, use light pressure, and on thicker skin, such as your soles, apply harder pressure.
- Following brushing your feet, legs, and abdomen, brush your arms as well and move up to your armpits.
- Although you can practice dry brushing at any time, you will benefit more if you do it right before taking a cold shower since it helps get rid of dry skin.
- Rinse off after the shower. Then, it would be best if you applied moisturizers or natural oils, according to the best skin care tips for seniors.
At first, start brushing lightly to avoid damaging the skin. As you become comfortable with the pressure, you can increase it.
Notice that you should not brush skin areas with conditions like scars, wounds, cuts, infections, or rashes.
How Often Should You Dry Brush?
It is up to you to determine how much and how often you want to do it when it comes to dry brushing. But dermatologists advise not doing it more than two times a week since it can cause irritations and damage the skin.
What Are the Risks of Dry Brushing?
Not everyone always benefits from dry brushing. People with severe skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis or open or sensitive skin should be extra cautious or consult their doctor before trying dry brushing.
Occasionally, dry brushing is not very beneficial, and it only causes irritation and skin problems.
Additionally, brushing too hard and too often can irritate your skin. As we said, dry brushing can cause redness in some areas, but you are not supposed to have damaged, irritated skin. Finally, if you have an open wound on your skin, avoid the area to prevent infection and bacteria from spreading.
Conclusion
We talked about dry brushing and its benefits or risks for your skin. This Ayurvedic skincare method has been popular for a long time. There are still many people who dry brush their bodies and seem quite satisfied with the results.
Taking care of your skin is all about trying new and old methods and coming up with the best skin care regimen for you. In order to look younger at 60, you need to know what your skin needs. And if the thing your skin needs is dry brushing, you now know how to do it.
I am 62 years old, and I do dry brushing in a quiet space. It helps me calm my mind and relieve stress. I suggest people like me do it in a calm and quiet room or if you like music like my wife you can play music with it. I usually do it before showering, and it is sort of a meditation for me. My wife and I do it once a month, and we have been doing it since last year. If you have a stressful life, I recommend dry brushing.
Hi, Marshall. One of my friends has a bad temper most of the time. She gets furious if someone criticizes something about her in the slightest. However, after visiting a therapist for a few months, she was finally ready to accept her anger issues and start working on them.
She started doing meditation and yoga. One of the things she finds most soothing is dry brushing her skin and chatting with me while listening to her favourite lo-fi youtube playlist. It encouraged me to purchase a brush and see if it could help me feel better after a stressful day.
If you want to do dry brushing, you have to know that the most expected side effect of dry brushing is irritated skin, and it is more likely to occur if you brush too hard, brush too often, or if your skin is sensitive. I have done it for a month, and now I have red spots and bruises on my skin.
Yes, I know what you mean. But dry body brushing should be pleasant; you’re being too aggressive if it doesn’t. :))
I have been dry brushing my skin for almost 14 months now. It helped me get rid of some big keratosis pilaris patches from my arms and legs. It’s also an excellent way to prevent ingrown hair after a shaving session. Overall, dry brushing works wonders if you crave having smooth skin and see it in yourself to consistently brush your body.
One thing, however, that underwhelmed me was how little it affected my cellulite. I have heard from one of my friends that it helped them smooth their rippled skin, but, unfortunately, it did no such thing for me.
I must admit that dry body brushing has been one of the best things for my skin in the last two years. Try it. I mean it.
And something funny! At first, I thought dry brushing had diminished my cellulite, but then I realized it enhances skin radiance and light reflection, so the skin looks brighter, and it’s probably this trick of light reflection at work.
Hi, I just have one quick question. Do I have to take a shower after dry brushing?
There is no need to shower after dry body brushing unless you wish to, so you can do it at any time. However, I recommend you to do so because it will remove all your dead skin and freshen you up.