Cellulite
can ruin anyone’s day. Unfortunately, there is no magic
cure to make cellulite disappear but there are ways you
can improve or minimize its appearance. In addition to
daily exercise and a good diet, performing the dry brush
technique can make a huge difference in the severity of
your cellulite. The dry brush technique is easy to learn
and the tools needed won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
One of
the most common causes for the formation of cellulite is
poor circulation. This disrupts the blood flow, allowing
free radicals to wreak havoc on the affected areas. As a
result, the fatty layer of the skin becomes filled with
pockets of lymph accumulation. The combination of these
fatty pockets, along with protein fibers, damaged tissue
and fluid retention come together to form the dimpling or
“cottage cheese” effect. To minimize the appearance of
cellulite, the key is to restore healthy circulation back
into the skin and body. Dry brushing is one way to boost
your circulation and helps detoxify your skin.
Dry
brushing stimulates your entire body through gentle
massage. In addition to alleviating the presence of
cellulite, this 30-year-old technique also exfoliates the
body, promotes healthy skin cell renewal, cleanses the
lymphatic system, tightens the skin to prevent premature
aging and tones the muscles.
You can
use various tools to perform dry brushing at home,
depending on what you’re most comfortable using. These
tools can be purchased at any store at very affordable
prices. For hard to reach areas such as the buttocks and
the back of the legs, a soft, natural fiber brush with a
long handle works wonders. Some even come with a removable
head with a strap so you can attach it to your hand to
treat the smaller and easier to reach areas. Be sure to
choose a brush that has gentle bristles that won’t scratch
or damage your skin. Using a loofah sponge or rough towel
works just as well, too.
As the
name suggests, the dry brushing technique should be done
before you step into the shower or bath. This should be
done once a day. Avoid dry brushing damaged skin, rashes,
cuts, scabs or other broken skin. Regardless of what area
of cellulite you’re trying to treat, always use long,
sweeping strokes with applied pressure but not so hard
that you hurt yourself. For thinner areas of the skin, use
light pressure. The easiest way to learn how to dry brush
is to start at your feet and begin brushing vigorously in
circular motions. Continue doing this and gradually move
up your legs, then to your hands and arms, the back and
shoulders, and finally the neck and chest (do not dry
brush your face).
At most
the dry brush technique should take about 15 minutes to do
and while it’s important to target the problem areas,
practice brushing your entire body for an overall effect.
Afterwards, step into the shower and wash away the layers
of dead skin and other surface debris. Once you’ve toweled
off, apply your lotion of choice using firm and vigorous
pressure to massage it into your skin. This will help keep
the circulation going as well. Clean your brush or other
dry brush tools with warm soap and water once a week and
lay them out to dry in the sun to avoid mildew and other
bacteria from gathering. This technique may take a few
weeks or even months to show a change so be patient and
stick with it!
