All the benefits of dry brushing

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing is, as its name suggests, a bodycarethat consists of brushing your skin with a hand brush, soft and firm texture. Brushing is done on dry skin.

The skin is an organ with multiple functions:

• Protective barrier against external aggressions, it is the first actor of our immunity.
• Emunctorial organ, it allows the evacuation of toxinsfrom the body, viasweatingand the excretion of fatty substances (sebum).
• Reflection of the general state of health, because many conditions result in skin manifestations – dermatoses caused by an external cause (allergy causing hives, for example) or by an internal cause (yellow complexion heralding liver disease, or hyperpigmentation of the legs that can reflect poor blood circulation typical ofdiabetes).

Dry brushing helps facilitate some of the skin’s functions, starting with its excretory function.

In addition, dry brushing contributes to the proper circulation of vital fluids. Indeed, under the epidermis, at the level of the dermis, there is a network of blood and lymphatic vessels, which feeds, oxygenates and purifies the body. Thus the blood carries nutrients and oxygen to the different constituents of the body, while the lymph drains waste (microbial antigens, cellular and tissue waste) to the lymph nodes. Also, the massage induced by dry brushing will stimulate circulatory function.

What are the benefits of dry brushing?

The benefits of dry brushing are therefore numerous:

• The gentle exfoliation eliminates dead cells, unclogs pores and thus facilitates the emunctory function of the skin.
• The stimulation of blood circulation allows better nutrition and cellular oxygenation. The skin is more radiant, the muscles more toned, the tissues firmer.
• The drainage of toxins and waste is facilitated by dry brushing, since the latter helps to encourage lymphatic fluidity. Thus the immune system is strengthened.
• Dry brushing also has a soothing and relaxing effect, and thus soothes nervous, tendon and muscular tensions (better vascularization, better elimination of lactic acid).
• Dry brushing, by encouraging microcirculation, stimulates the cellular work of subcutaneous fibroblasts. Thus the elastic network of the skin is strengthened. Scars,stretch marks , fibrosis and cellulite benefit from the massage: the skin is firmed, scars faded, Orange Peel Skin

How to properly dry brush?

Frequency

Effective dry brushing only takes 5-10 minutes. It can be done every day, because it is the regularity of the massages that will make them effective. In fact, we see the first effects of dry brushing on the skin and in extenso, the body, after about a month. Beyond this period, you can then carry out a dry brushing every 2 to 3 days, in maintenance. In addition, it is advisable to dry brush before taking a shower. Indeed, it can cause slight desquamation, which must be rinsed off. Then, you can nourish your skin with a moisturizing solution or an oil. As for the best time to practice dry brushing, it is up to you to judge: in the morning, it is invigorating, while in the evening, it is relaxing.

Method

Dry brushing must be carried out according to a very specific methodology. As previously mentioned, it is a question of activating the circulation of fluids. Also, the direction of brushing will be very important. The principle is to start from the extremities of the body – palms of the hands and soles of the feet, in the direction of the lymph nodes:

• Occipital lymph nodes, at the level of the neck (deep)
• Cervical lymph nodes, at the level of the
• Axillary lymph nodes, under the armpits
• Mediastinal lymph nodes, chest level (deep)
• Lumbo-aortic nodes, at the abdomino-iliac level (deep)
• Inguinal lymph nodes, at the level of the fold of the groin
• Popliteal nodes, at the back of the Knees
• Epitrochlear and brachial lymph nodes, at the elbow crease

Dry brushing includes circular strokes (clavicular region) and linear strokes (hands to heart, feet to Buttocks, lower torso/back to top). At first, the brush pressure should be light, time for you (and your skin) to get used to the procedure. Then, it can be more supported, without being brutal. The goal is not to strip the skin, but to stimulate microcirculation and nerve endings.

Choice of brush

The choice of brush is important. It is preferred:

• Made of wood, warmer and more natural than plastic.
• Made of natural fibers. It can be as much animal hair, such as horsehair (this is for example the case of theNew Skin Brush from Cellublue ), as well as plant fibers, such as sisal, loofah or tampico.

As for its shape, it depends on the personal preference of the user. Some people swear by small brushes with a handle, while others prefer long-handled brushes, which allow more range (dry back brushing, for example).

Finally, the maintenance of a brush is very simple: washing two to three times a month, with soap and water, is more than enough. However, it is a question of letting your brush dry well in the open air, so that the fibers retain their firmness and density. 

Contraindications to dry brushing

Some areas of the body are very sensitive: the skin is thinner and requires special care. Also, it is not recommended to brush your face orchest, when you are a woman.

In addition, dry brushing should be practiced on healthy skin, free of the slightest lesion. Also, if you suffer from redness, skin condition (psoriasis, eczema), wound, sunburn, pimples, avoid brushing the area.

Finally, some pathologies represent contraindications to dry brushing: infectious disease, but also venous thrombosis, lymphoma, cardiac edema or inflammatory disease.