Many people complain of dry, itchy skin during pregnancy and postpartum. Sometimes expensive oils and creams don’t offer the results you are looking for. Enter: dry brushing.
Dry skin brushing could be your answer for many things, including stretch marks, swelling, itchy skin, and so much more!
In todays post, we will discuss what dry brushing is, what the benefits are, if it’s safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding, and how to do it.
What is dry brushing?
It is using a soft bristled, medium bristled, or hard bristled brush to exfoliate your dry skin. It can be done before or after showering.
What are the benefits of dry brushing?
Your skin is your largest organ. Many people spend lots of time and money caring for the skin on their face. However, skin covers your entire body. Therefore, your entire body should be cared for regularly.
Dry brushing is an excellent way to care for your skin. It is also inexpensive and doesn’t take very much time.
1: Reducing stretch marks and the appearance of cellulite
When you are pregnant, you are likely going to have stretch marks and cellulite appear on various areas of your body. And that’s ok! You are working very hard to grow a little person, it’s normal to end up with a few battle scars.
Some people want to minimize the cellulite buildup and help their stretch marks fade.
For cellulite: Dry brushing can help minimize cellulite by softening fat deposits under the skin and helping to distribute them more evenly. Brushing several times or even once a day can drastically change the appearance of cellulite in as little as two weeks.
For stretch marks: brushing over stretch marks 3-4 times a week both during pregnancy and after can help reduce their appearance. Dry brushing helps the skin produce more collagen and helps marks fade.
2: Allows your body to better absorb lotions and oils
When you brush your skin, you open your pores. This allows for better absorption of any lotions or oils. When you are pregnant, your skin can crave moisture. Dry brushing is an excellent way to encourage anything you put on your skin to soak in faster and deeper.
3: An excellent way to relieve stress
Pregnancy and postpartum can be a stressful time. Exfoliating your skin is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety as the process can be relaxing. I encourage mama’s to add this to their list of ways to practice self care.
4: Helps to stimulate the lymphatic system
One of the many benefits of dry brushing is supporting your lymphatic system. Brushing towards your heart is best for circulation and helps to flush unnecessary toxins from your body.
5: Can help unclog blocked ducts when breast-feeding
Just as dry brushing can help improve blood circulation, it can have the same effect on breast milk. Gently brushing in circular/round motions can help to get things moving, unclogging blocked ducts and relieving any pain associated with that blockage.
Is dry brushing safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding?
As mentioned above, skin brushing is typically a safe practice.
(Always run anything you decide to do while pregnant or breast-feeding by your doctor to verify. There may be cases where it would be best to avoid excess friction on the skin.)
For most pregnant women, dry brushing can be an excellent way to help improve circulation and help reduce swelling. It can also help reduce itching as your belly stretches.
Gently brushing the skin on your belly during postpartum can help improve circulation and collagen production as your skin returns to normal.
Be careful when brushing your chest and breasts while breastfeeding. Never brush over your nipples as that can irritate and cause pain on that sensitive skin. As mentioned above, carefully brush in circular motions to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and to help with circulation and clogged ducts.
How to do it/what tools do I need for dry brushing?
One of the many reasons I love dry brushing is it’s so easy! All you need is a natural bristled brush. I got mine from Walmart, but you can easily find them anywhere!
Dry brushing has one simple rule: always start outward and work your way in.
You simply start at your hands and work your way up your elbows to your shoulders. Start at your neck and work your way down to the center of your chest. Start at your feet and work your way up to your knees, then to your hips, then to your waist.
Using circular or sweeping motions gives best results.
Starting outward and working your way to the center of your body will allow for optimum circulation/blood flow as well as properly stimulating your lymphatic system, allowing your body to properly release toxins.
Can I brush my face?
I do not recommend dry brushing your face. The skin on your face is very sensitive and could be easily irritated by something as harsh as a dry brush. Something softer like a rag or a loofah may be better suited for exfoliating that sensitive skin.
How often do I need to brush?
As often as you would like! Some people are able to do it multiple times a day, some people can only find the time to do it once. Any amount is beneficial, so do what’s best for you!
How often do I need to buy a new brush?
There is no need to buy a new brush until the bristles are falling out. The functionality of your brush does not change over time. The bristles will stay as stiff or as soft as they were when you first purchased it. My only recommendation for the upkeep of your brush would be to “tap it clean” after every use. A “deep clean” once a week with soap and water will keep the inside of the brush looking new. Keeping it clean should allow you to use it till it starts falling apart!
And that’s it! If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to ask away! If you are already an avid dry brusher, I’d love to hear about your experience/results in the comments below!
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