Skin brushing is a form of skin treatment employing gentle brush strokes across the body. It is a treatment for dry skin and brings out a healthy look in the skin by removing dead layers. Skin brushing is performed with a body brush and massaging strokes. It is a popular as a quick, simple, and effective treatment, and can be easily done anywhere with a simple brush and a few minutes.
Skin brushing is carried out with a body brush with soft, natural bristles, or with a loofah. The loofah, which is a tropical fruit that reaches a sponge-like consistency commonly used as a body scrub, is best used with a handle to reach the inaccessible parts of the back and shoulders. The natural massaging motion of the bristles removes dead skin and eliminates surface toxins from the body.
The brushing is most effectively worked on dry skin, and requires a soft brushing motion to massage the skin. It is best started at the feet and worked upwards, through the legs, buttocks, torso, back, shoulder, neck, and face. Brushing should always be done in a motion towards the heart, complimenting the natural flow of blood, and should be softest on the thinnest layers of skin. Skin brushing on the feet or hands is supported by thick skin, while brushing on the delicate areas of the face and neck should be done gingerly.
As a simple treatment that can take under 10 minutes, and a compliment to health care and massage, skin brushing can treat many imperfections. From cellulite and skin lumps, to dead patches and unclean pores, skin brushing eradicates many of the natural problems that build in and around the skin. Skin brushing should be employed before a shower or bath, so the water stream can wash away the dead or removed skin from the brushing, and is popular in the morning as a means of helping oxygen and skin circulation.
Skin brushing can often produce a natural glow in the skin, as well as stimulating blood and lymph flow. It smoothes skin and encourages the regeneration of skin cells in dead spots. It is most easily done sitting down, as the legs and feet are easier to reach, and most helpful in a warm, moist room. The strokes should be long and rhythmic, as well as consistent and repetitive. The amount of strokes can differ from person to person, though between five and ten is often a safe and effective amount.