My Facebook timeline is full of friends, family members, clients, etc., joking about their propensity for snacking during the quarantine, and I can’t say I blame them. I, too, participated in my fair share of snacking during this time, enough to make me feel like it is time to do a full-on detox. When I say full-on, I don’t mean an extended juice cleanse, no. I’m talking about a full-on healing detox for every organ of the body, one of those vital organs is the skin. You know how you do a spring cleaning of your home once a year and clean everything? Every crack, crevice, and fold gets a full overhaul. Well, it does our bodies oh so good to do the same thing for it every year as well, even more than that, depending on your circumstances.
Have you ever heard of dry brushing? If you haven’t, it is exactly what it sounds like; brushing the skin. This is an easy method of detoxing the skin, which helps us to shed the everyday pollution from outside our homes and inside. Some people believe that dry brushing is actually better for your skin than using actual soap and water to cleanse away debris. I am not sure I would go that far, but I will say they should be used in conjunction with one another to help achieve optimal health.
Our skin is the largest organ of the body, and there’s no telling how much it absorbs and carries around daily. This method of cleaning, however, is more helpful than most people know. Here are some of the benefits of dry brushing:
- Increases blood circulation
- Sheds dead skin cells
- Supports detoxification of internal organs
- Improves the function of the immune system
- Softens and improves the texture of your skin
If dry brushing sounds like something you would like to try, I couldn’t fathom why one wouldn’t, do so because it’s inexpensive and good for your body! Here are a few tips on how to go about incorporating this method into your detoxing routine:
- It’s important to always brush towards the heart. Moving away from the heart puts extra pressure on the valves within the veins and lymph vessels and can cause ruptured vessels and varicose veins.
- Use a natural-bristle brush with a long handle so that you can reach your back.
- There may be a white powdery substance that comes off your skin, but this is a good thing.
- It is ideal to dry brush in the morning before your shower.
- Never expose the brush to water.
- Don’t use the brush on your face.
To start, you can dry brush one to two times per week. These are just a few tips and tricks to get you started. Happy brushing!