Skin brushing is something I first heard of a few years ago. The idea intrigued me, but I never really did anything about it. There’s not a lot of solid evidence out there about how beneficial it is (or isn’t), but there are a ton of stories from people who’ve used it and have seen benefits.
Since skin brushing is probably a little “out there,” I’ll be relying mostly on the anecdotes that I’ve heard, and explaining how they can be plausible — where possible. It’ll be up to you to decide if skin brushing is worth a try. One thing we know for sure is that it can’t hurt — it’s totally non-invasive. Have you heard about it before?
The Benefits of Skin Brushing
From what I’ve read, the benefits of skin brushing are myriad. Some are clearly plausible; some are uncertain (may be attributable to another source). But I think it’s interesting to see what people have noted when they try it.
Softer Skin
Brushing the skin removes the dead skin cells and stimulates natural oil production, thereby making skin feel softer. I have actually tried brushing on my face (more on this in a bit) and this was the most obvious benefit that I noticed. It did make my skin feel very soft!
Many people swear it works on their entire bodies (it’s usually recommended to brush bodies, not faces). With regular brushing and a natural moisturizer used after, it makes skin soft and smooth.
Cleaner Skin
Yes, brushing can make skin cleaner, too! Brushing the skin stimulates the nerves and brings more blood flow to it. It can also help open pores and brush away dirt (it’s recommended that you shower after brushing, or even brush in the shower — people do it different ways). This leads to cleaner skin.
Reduced Cellulite
This one depends on who you ask, but some have definitely noticed this benefit. The official explanation is that by stimulating the skin and bringing increased blood flow, it helps to breakdown the cellulite (which some say is toxins trapped in fat cells) and then eliminate it through normal detox pathways. Whether this is true or not…it’s an interesting idea!
Tighter, Smoother Skin
Brushing the skin removes the dead skin cells, which can make it smoother (so will any sort of exfoliation, of course). Exfoliation and removing some, but not all, of the natural oil, will help to tighten up skin. Plus, opening the pores and removing the “junk” will cause skin to tighten.
Some people go beyond this and say that they have actually experienced loose skin — like after a pregnancy or weight loss — tighten up with skin brushing. I’m not sure if that works or not, but it’s possible. Increased blood flow to the area from brushing could mean increased healing, especially after a normal event like pregnancy.
Increasing Detox
Proponents of skin brushing say that because it increases blood flow, and because it also stimulates the lymphatic system, it will increase natural detox. That is, whatever toxins are being stored in your fat or skin cells will be released into your lymphatic system and eliminated. Some have experienced minor digestive or other “healing” symptoms after skin brushing.
Minimized Scars and Stretch Marks
Again, skin brushing brings blood flow to the skin, which can cause it to heal more quickly, including reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Some moms who brushed through pregnancy said it prevented stretch marks for them!
Sensory Stimulation
A very real, not-debatable use for skin brushing is sensory stimulation. For children on the autism spectrum, or who have sensory processing disorder, brushing their skin can help to calm them down. It stimulates their nerves and meets their need for stimulation in a non-threatening way. Many physical therapists will suggest skin brushing for this purpose. A lot of parents have had great success with this.
How to Brush
The preferred method of brushing varies a bit, but this is generally what is recommended.
Most say to use long strokes, and to start at the top of the body and move downward. Some recommend brushing towards the heart, some recommend brushing away from it. It may or may not matter exactly how you do it. Find what feels most comfortable to you.
Many recommend showering after brushing (or brushing in the shower) so that you can wash away the dead skin cells. Moisturizing with a natural oil after a shower, when your pores are open, is a good idea — choose a light oil, like apricot kernel or jojoba, which will absorb well and soften skin naturally.
Have you tried skin brushing?
LOVE this! I also love my Soniclear great review thanks!
With my son (autism), we used plastic surgical scrub brushes per our OT. Worked very well for him, and he has no issue with touch now years after the therapy.