The first time I heard dry skin brushing mentioned, it was as a treatment for cellulite. I didn't think much of it, since I treat any 'cure' for cellulite with suspicion. Then I came across a mention recommending it for general skin health, and my interest was piqued. I started to search for more information, and before long, I had ordered my own brush to try it out. I'm so glad now that I did!

Simply put, dry skin brushing is using a natural bristle brush to exfoliate the skin while it is dry, not wet.

Everyone has heard sometime or other that skin is the largest organ a human has. That is an interesting bit of trivia which had no practical impact on my life until recently. I started to think about what an amazing organ skin is when I got a topical medication. Previously, I had been taking progesterone orally, around 200 mg. But when it was applied topically by massaging into my skin, I only had to take 20 mg. My skin was efficiently delivering the medication where needed, whereas much of it was destroyed by digestive processes when taken orally. I started to think about being more careful about what I put on my skin, and how I took care of it!

Dry skin brushing helps to keep skin healthy by exfoliating, refreshing the skin by eliminating dead skin cells. Dry skin brushing encourages blood flow and lymph flow. The lymph system is an oft neglected, taken for granted part of your body that is a vital part of your immune system. And if I'm to believe the reports (and I'm think I'm starting to), dry skin brushing really does help get rid cellulite. It has already made the jungle of stretch marks on my belly a bit less noticable.

Within days of starting dry skin brushing, I noticed a big difference in the evenness of my skin texture. Now, after only two weeks of brushing, my skin is velvety soft and noticably healthier. I also find it refreshing! This is one piece of my skin care regimen that is here to stay.

The most important part of dry skin brushing is the brush! Thankfully, it is really not that hard to find a natural bristle bath brush that is appropriate for the task. Natural bristles are used because they are not likely to scratch the skin too deeply. Your local drug or department store (even some dollar stores) carry natural bristle bath brushes. I ordered my brush online at drugstore.com. I use the Earth Therapeutics Fuzz Brush, and am pleased with it. It is just the right firmness for my skin.

It is invigorating to incoporate dry skin brushing into your morning routine. Just make sure you do it before you get wet! Dry skin brushing will invigorate your lymph system, and the direction that you brush will help to move the lymph through your system. Always brush toward the core of your body. Some practitioners say to brush toward the heart, since everyone knows where that is, and it is easy to remember! The skin of the nipples and face are too delicate to be brushed, so you should skip those.

I start with my feet, then move in long strokes up my legs. Then I do my arms, starting with my fingertips, then my torso. I get a hot, or burning sensation as the brush moves over my skin, but I do not find it unpleasant. Use a pressure that feel right to you. When you first start the practice, you might use soft strokes, but find later that your skin is craving a firmer touch. Also, some parts of your skin are thinner than others and should be brushed less firmly. If you do what feels best to you, it will probably be just right!

Have you ever had the experience of asking someone to scratch an itch on your back, only to find that when you describe where it is, it moves? Then the helpful scratcher is chasing the itch all over your back, and when they finally get the spot you melt into a deep "Ahhhh....". I get that feeling when I start brushing, an itch in an adjacent spot. When the bristles get to that spot and brush it, it is a very satisfying feeling. Ahhhhhhh.