Skin fascinates me and I see a lot of skin in my line of work.

Just stop and think about it for a minute.

Skin is our largest organ and is an amazing multi-layered protective covering that serves as our first line of defense against outside elements.

Our skin is also an incredible sensory organ. Maybe you've had moments when something "made your skin crawl" with discomfort.

Or what about moments when you've been touched by someone or something that were scintillating?

I still get warm and fuzzy recalling skin-to-skin time with both my newborn babies, their luscious, soft bodies snuggling into my chest against the shock of leaving the comfort and security of the womb.

Even if our skin is no longer baby soft, it deserves both reverence and TLC.

One of my favorite skin care practices is dry brushing with a natural bristled brush or a dry wash cloth.

Dry brushing offers a few benefits, including these:

Provides a healthy glow. Dry brushing gently exfoliates dead skin cells and unclogs pores so the body can sweat more easily. Over time, regular dry brushing lends radiance to your skin.

Improves circulation and lymph flow. Our lymphatic system plays a huge role in immune support and disease intervention, but lymph needs a helping hand to circulate. Manual therapies like massage or lymphatic drainage move lymph effectively. The contraction and release of muscles during exercise also put the lymphatic system in fluid motion. Dry brushing is a great tool for guiding lymph toward nodes for processing and return to the body.

Stimulates the nervous system. A brief, full-body dry brush session can feel invigorating! When followed by a warm (not too hot) shower and moisturizer, this routine makes my skin feel happy and often lifts my mood!

Avoid dry brushing if you have patches of irritated skin from eczema or psoriasis, open wounds or cuts, or infected blemishes.

To continue tending your skin beyond dry brushing, consider using less soap in the shower (it's very drying and strips skin of valuable oils). Use sunscreen! Hydrate from within by drinking adequate amounts of water. And, while it may sound agonizing as we approach the cooler weather months, tepid showers are kinder on our skin.

Go get your glow on!

Jennifer (she/her)

P.S.: Did I mention that massage and movement help our skin and lymphatic system stay healthy? I've got openings for bodywork and yoga right here!