Can You Dry Brush Your Face? We Requested Derms

Dry brushing has a fervent fan following, with many swearing by the approach for that lit-from-within glow and silky clean physique. Certainly, there’s an actual and compelling historical past behind the Ayurvedic follow, which entails utilizing a dry-bristled brush to enhance circulation and exfoliate drained, useless pores and skin off the physique. However whereas it is mega-popular under the neck, we do not see as a lot hype round dry brushing the face. And why not? Given that there is pores and skin on each the physique and the face, it stands to cause that you simply’d achieve comparable outcomes.

Seems, the reply is a little more difficult. Learn on for every thing it is advisable to find out about dry brushing the face, straight from board-certified dermatologists Teresa Track, MD, and Ranella Hirsch, MD.

What Is Dry Brushing?

Dry brushing is an exfoliation approach with Ayurvedic roots wherein one makes use of a dry-bristled brush to enhance circulation and take away dry pores and skin. Based on Track, dry brushing is mostly gentler than a typical physique scrub within the bathe, making it an incredible possibility for many who desire a lighter exfoliation; that stated, she provides that it is not essentially superb for these with delicate or notably reactive pores and skin varieties. Plus, Hirsch notes that dry brushing is commonly achieved incorrectly or overdone.

Can You Dry Brush Your Face?

When you actually can dry brush your face, neither knowledgeable would essentially suggest it. “It is [seldom] one thing I like to recommend,” explains Hirsch. “Particularly when there are such nice chemical exfoliants on the market.”

Track echoes her sentiments, saying there are merely higher methods to exfoliate the face and stimulate lymphatic drainage. Facial pores and skin is way extra delicate than the pores and skin on the remainder of the physique, and given how simple it’s to overdo dry brushing, you run the danger of damage and irritation.

Advantages of Dry Brushing Your Face

Whereas dry brushing the face poses dangers (extra on that in a bit), there are a couple of potential advantages:

• Elevated circulation: Based on Hirsch, dry brushing usually helps enhance blood move.
• Mild exfoliation: Dry brushing acts as a form of bodily exfoliator, gently buffing off useless pores and skin cells. When achieved correctly, dry brushing gives a lighter exfoliation methodology than many commonplace chemical exfoliants.
• Improved lymphatic drainage: Track notes that dry brushing may help enhance lymphatic drainage within the facial space.

Dangers of Dry Brushing Your Face

The foremost difficulty with dry brushing is that individuals hardly ever do it appropriately—as an alternative, they’re typically extra aggressive and invasive with their strategy. Because of this, it is notably harmful to do on the face, the place the pores and skin is extra delicate than the remainder of the physique. Dangers vary from outright damage to breakage within the pores and skin barrier, which Track says can current with redness, irritation, sensitivity, and potential zits flare-ups. For these causes, each consultants say they hardly ever, if ever, counsel dry brushing the face.

Learn how to Dry Brush Your Face

In the event you nonetheless really feel compelled to dry brush your face, you actually can. Whereas Hirsch suggests searching for a professional Ayurvedic practitioner to carry out the therapy, you’ll be able to theoretically do it from residence. In the event you should, our consultants counsel utilizing the next methodology:

1. Choose a brush supposed for the face with very smooth bristles.
2. Cleanse the face with a mild, hydrating cleanser.
3. Pat the pores and skin dry.
4. Utilizing mild strain, gently sweep the comb upward throughout the face. Watch out to finish only one cycle across the face, and keep away from particularly delicate areas, akin to across the eyes.
5. Rinse pores and skin with water and pat dry once more.
6. Observe along with your ordinary skincare routine, specializing in restore and hydration.

The Remaining Takeaway

Simply since you can do one thing doesn’t suggest you ought to. Our consultants are pretty staunch of their stance on dry brushing the face—that’s to say, they don’t suggest it. If, for some cause, you’re feeling completely dedicated to it, you should definitely comply with security protocols and do not overdo it. However normally, we are saying keep on with the chemical exfoliants.