Does dry brushing help with cellulite? Eighty to ninety percent of females develop cellulite in their buttocks, hips, thighs, or upper arms. The cellulite may begin to form soon after reaching puberty. Cellulite does not even spare men, as ten percent of them get it. It worsens with weight gain.
Doctors have medical ways of reducing cellulite, but some victims prefer to dry-brush it at home. This article clarifies whether dry brushing can remove cellulite. If this is a home remedy you have been looking forward to, keep reading this comprehensive guide to know if the method will be helpful.
What is Dry Brushing?
Does dry brushing help with cellulite? Before answering this question, we will first describe the term dry brushing. It is a beauty routine common in India’s Ayurvedic medicine. Dry brushing entails massaging the skin with a stiff-bristled and long-handled brush. This long handle will help you brush the parts of your back that you cannot reach easily.
Try to brush your body in clockwise movements, starting from your feet. Move up slowly as you feel the relaxation the process causes. The amount of pressure you apply depends on the skin thickness. Where it is thinner and sensitive, press it lightly and vice-versa. Dry brushing works best if your skin is healthy.
Do not brush it if you notice some blemishes. Instead, go to a dermatologist for examination and treatment. Dry brushing can provide excellent results if you do it before taking a cold shower or bath. It will exfoliate your skin to remove dead cells and promote blood flow.
Dry brushing will also produce perfect results if you moisturise your skin after taking a cold birth. Some of its top benefits include detoxification, exfoliation, improved fluid circulation, improved lymphatic drainage, etc. The question is: does dry brushing help with cellulite?
The Science Behind Dry Brushing and Cellulite Reduction
Does dry brushing help with cellulite? Some females have stage 3 cellulite. It is so severe that victims have ten or more huge lumps and deep hollows.
So, does dry brushing help with cellulite of this caliber? First, no reliable scientific study has shown that dry brushing can reduce cellulite in the long term. Doctors at Cernova Aesthetics say that dry brushing is not a long-term cellulite treatment.
They feel it has many benefits in our bodies, except permanent cellulite removal. Due to temporary plumping that follows dry brushing, you might notice a short-lived improvement. Nonetheless, dry brushing does not directly affect cellulite because it relaxes the epidermal layer.
The hypodermal layer hosting the connective fibers that enable fat cells to protrude in between to form cellulite does not change. An In VIVO Efficacy Study aired on BBC One in a TV series called “The Truth About Looking Good,” showed some success. The user-trial investigation led by Dr. Kayode Deborah Adejokun tested dry brushing, exercise, and anti-cellulite cream. She wanted to see which method was the most effective for treating cellulite. Nine volunteers engaged in a five-week study.
The overall average improvement for the dry brushing group scored 25.8 percent; the cream group scored 14.7 percent, while the exercise group got 12.7 percent. The conclusion was that dry brushing was the most reliable short-term cellulite remedy.
There is a strong belief that massage and dry brushing can remove cellulite. Nevertheless, an Online Library research concluded that massage can change cellulite appearance in the short term. Further, it found that this may happen because dry brushing creates a plumping effect on the skin.
Moreover, the smoothened skin surface with unclogged pores may absorb anti-cellulite creams more effectively. Once the cream reaches the deeper layer where cellulite forms, it might enhance its looks.
Benefits of Dry Brushing
Does dry brushing help with cellulite? You now know that dry brushing might cause short-term results. It can also trigger other benefits that might improve your health. One of these is exfoliation. The stiff bristles remove dead skin cells as you move it in circular motions.
Exfoliation in this manner leaves your skin smooth and soft. Another advantage is improved lymphatic system drainage. Dry brushing triggers a motion that arouses the lymphatic system. It enables the skin pores to open and drain toxins that cause illness.
The promoted lymphatic system drainage helps the kidneys to function better. Wide and round dry brush movements stimulate blood circulation. You can avoid many health issues by enhancing your blood circulation.
Another advantage of dry brushing is that it enhances the absorption of nutrients, including vitamin D, which comes from the sun. Exfoliation makes this possible by unblocking skin pores, allowing the UVB rays to enter. Once they do, they will arouse the skin to manufacture vitamin D3.
Regardless, wear your sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Does dry brushing help with cellulite and enhance muscle definition? Dry brushing stimulates the nerve endings on your skin with its sensations. Therefore, it can restart the nervous system. The nervous system will then arouse your muscle tissue and depolarise its fibers, enabling it to contract.
These muscle contractions can improve definition and tighten the skin. The overall effect is that your skin will appear tight, well-defined, and smooth. Leslie Korn, PhD, MPH, recommends skin brushing as a way to cope with PTSD. She claims that dry brushing can help trauma victims cope with their feelings.
Since it is a non-invasive, painless approach, anyone going through traumatic stress can use it to get in touch with reality. You can use it to deal with dissociative personality disorder, anxiety, or depression, as it causes relaxation without pain.
How to Dry Brush Safely
Does dry brushing help with cellulite? If you know how to brush your body correctly, you can experience temporary cellulite improvement. Here is a step-by-step procedure to follow:
- Buy a long-handled brush with stiff bristles. It will only cost you less than £10 online. Some online stores also sell dry brushing kits at a higher price, but you get every supply you require for this procedure. If you decide to get your brush from a health store, try it on yourself before buying to experience the sensations. If you like how you feel, purchase the brush.
- Start the dry brushing procedure from your feet. Then, proceed to the ankles and lower legs. Move the brush gradually in circular motions. Make long, flexible strokes as you move toward the upper body. Brush your buttocks and thigh areas with heavier pressure if they have severe cellulite. Vigorous brushing will make the skin on these parts smooth. Does dry brushing help with cellulite if you brush vigorously? It will make your skin plumper and softer, which might enhance the appearance of your cellulite for a while.
- Move the bristled brush to your upper body and begin massaging your back. Ensure you reach even the furthest area of your back to remove all dead cells and open your skin pores. It will improve the absorption of nutrients.
- Bring the brush to the front side of your torso. Brush your tummy, bust, and neck gradually while lightening your hand to reduce pressure. It is because your breast area can be too sensitive to the touch. You want to feel relaxed instead of tingly.
- Finish and take a cold shower to experience the relaxation of dry brushing on the skin.
- Pat-dry your skin with a clean towel. Moisturize it with oils that lock in the moisture to prevent excessive skin dryness.
- When you finish dry-brushing your cellulite skin, rinse your brush. Place it in an open and sunny place, as it will prevent mildew from forming. Get into a habit of washing and drying your bristled brush once a week. Use water and soap to clean it perfectly, and do not let others use your brush to avoid infection.
Does dry brushing help with cellulite, and should you overdo one area? Swipe a body part a few times, as many repetitions could trigger bleeding or irritation. One time daily is often enough. If you notice bruised skin areas, hop to the next healthy area.
Conclusion
Does dry brushing help with cellulite? Doctors have not found reliable scientific evidence that it can cause long-term cellulite reduction. However, a few studies suggest that it can trigger short-lived cellulite improvement.
Dry brushing will not change your cellulite in the manner you expect. However, it can be advantageous in other ways and improve your health. If you want to mend the appearance of your cellulite, seek medical help.
Doctors have non-invasive techniques for fading mild to severe cellulite. You might do several sessions to see results, but they will be better than anything you get from dry brushing.