The DIRT on Dry Brushing

As I have mentioned before, the skin is the body’s LARGEST organ and one of the biggest determinants of our general health. Therefore, understanding your skin and its SENSITIVITY, and taking proper care of it should be top of mind.

When you look closely at our skin, it is easy to determine that the skin is truly designed for optimal function and maximum protection. The skin is made up of three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis.

The EPIDERMIS is the skin that you can visibly see, and it is responsible for shielding the inner layers. This layer is made up of several “sheets,” so to speak, of cells beneath the surface, with the bottom sheet being where new epidermal cells are formed. As old, dead skin cells are sloughed off the surface, new ones are pushed up to replace them. This is also the layer that contains melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

The DERMIS refers to the layer underneath the epidermis, and it is made up of elastic fibers, or elastin, for suppleness, and protein fibers, or collagen, for strength. This layer also contains our sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles, blood vessels and nerves.

The SUBCUTIS is actually not skin, but a layer of fat that sits immediately beneath the dermis. It provides thermal insulation and mechanical protection, giving smoothness and contour to our bodies, while adipose fat stored in the subcutis acts as a source of energy.

The skin is soft, to allow for movement, but remains tough enough to resist breaking or tearing. It also varies in terms of texture and thickness from one part of the body to the next. For example, the skin around our eyes, and on our lips is very thin and extremely delicate, while the skin on the soles of our feet is thicker and more durable.

If you are looking for a great way to maintain SKIN HEALTH, while also exfoliating and rejuvenating your skin, dry brushing is an excellent place to start and a technique that is, in my opinion, worth trying out. While there are a variety of health claims associated with dry brushing, there are some precautions required, as well, therefore, it is essential to do your RESEARCH, learn the correct approach BEFOREHAND, and to proceed with both CARE and VIGILANCE should you determine that dry brushing is something for YOU.

DRY BRUSHING is a classic Ayurvedic ritual that involves brushing your full body with a special dry, stiff-bristled brush tool. It acts as a daily body massage that works to remove flaky skin, increase circulation, detoxify, improve digestion, and can even help with the appearance of cellulite.

HOW?

The mechanical action of dry brushing is phenomenal for exfoliating that dry, winter skin and works to unclog pores in the process. It also rids your skin of toxins by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow and drainage. Dry brushing also makes you feel good since it has the added benefit of stimulating the nervous system, making you feel invigorated afterwards, similar to the way getting a massage often does.

But WHAT exactly is the lymphatic system, and WHY is lymph flow important?

The lymphatic system is similar to the vascular system. Lymph is a fluid, like blood, that exists mostly in vessels that circulate it around the body. It seeps out of the vessels and helps the body’s cells survive by carrying immune cells. It also carries away metabolic waste, which is what we often refer to as toxins. Unlike the vascular system, however, it doesn’t work on a pump, like the heart, but rather lymph moves throughout the body by processes of the body’s own movement or through manual lymphatic drainage techniques, like dry brushing.

To reap all of the benefits of dry brushing, however, you want to make sure you use the correct brush. A proper dry brush should have natural, stiff bristles and comes in two styles: with or without a handle. Though the handled version makes it easier to get those hard-to-reach places, l prefer the handleless brush as it gives more control over the brushstroke and is easier to store.

It is also critical that you follow the right procedure while dry brushing. To dry brush correctly, gently but firmly brush your skin in long, fluid strokes towards your heart, going over each area two or three times. Start at your ankles and work your way up, then, when you reach your stomach and torso, switch to more circular motions in a clockwise direction. The strokes should be medium pressure, as you want to exfoliate without irritating the skin, however, this process can be sensitive on your abdomen, breasts and neck, so lighten up the pressure as needed in these areas.

Dry brushing should be done once each day and the best time to do so is just before showering, as you will want to wash off any dead skin cells that come off in the process. Be sure to apply a vitamin-rich moisturizer afterwards to help keep skin hydrated and healthy. The reason dry brushing is done dry and before showering, rather than during a shower, is that the warm or hot water can inflame the skin and even strip away the oils, fats and proteins produced naturally.

Knowing when dry brushing is NOT ideal is also important, as there are many skin conditions where dry brushing is not recommended. NEVER dry brush over moles, warts or raised bumps, and do not use this technique on skin that is broken, which includes cuts, scrapes, lesions, sores or burned skin, or areas of infection, redness, general irritation, cellulitis or skin cancer. If skin becomes inflamed or irritated, stop dry brushing.

It is also best to avoid using a dry brush on your face since the skin there is more sensitive than on the rest of the body, therefore, if you wasn’t to exfoliate your face, try using more gentle products and methods that are specifically designed with this in mind.

If this is something that intrigues you or you feel could benefit you, I HIGHLY recommend doing your own research on tools, techniques and products, as well as performing a thorough analysis and self-assessment of your own unique, individual skin, covering the entirety of your whole body. If you still have questions or want to discuss it with a professional, consult your dermatologist and see what they have to say about it, keeping in mind, of course, that YOU know YOU best. All in all, stay true to your gut instincts, using your intuition and expert judgment to form your own conclusions.

Xx,

Leah Kutsch P.S. Keeping IIN Touch