1

How to Take Care of your Skin

The body’s largest organ

 

When one thinks of the organs of the body, the heart, lungs, kidney and liver are usually what spring to mind. Yet, in fact, the skin is the body’s largest organ, and its largest elimination channel. 

The great herbalist, the late Dr. John Christopher, called the skin an extra kidney, and an extra set of lungs for breathing. The skin’s health affects the health of the whole body. Factors such as hydration, exercise, proper nutrition and effective elimination all play a role in skin health. 

 

What goes on the outside goes for the inside: 

What you put on your skin is also important to consider. There is a plethora of unnatural, inorganic, heavily perfumed products, laden with chemicals, on the market. Yet, such products can clog up the skin’s pores and enter into the bloodstream.

Choice of clothing can also affect skin health. Synthetic and tight clothing prevent the skin from breathing and eliminating toxins, which can cause toxin overload in the bloodstream.  Choosing natural fibres such as cotton, linen, wool, silk or hemp, is a much better idea.

Completing a regular cleansing program can help keep your skin in its best condition, and aid in its detoxifying from the inside. Eating a plant-based diet, rich in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and keeping hydrated with clean, filtered water, is one of the best things you can do for youthful, healthy skin.

 

The art of dry skin brushing: 

Dry skin brushing is another way of improving the skin’s health. This process offers a range of benefits: 

  • Improving circulation to the skin–dry skin brushing can encourage lymphatic drainage. This can help the body to more effectively remove waste, and detoxify, as well as improving immune function.
  • Removing dead skin cells–dry skin brushing is an effective exfoliator, removing dead skin cells from the top layer of skin. Not only does this improve the skin’s appearance, helping it to look more youthful, but it also increases the effectiveness of any topical treatments that are subsequently applied. 
  • Giving you a chance for self-care for a few minutes each day, to focus on your body and feel good about yourself.

Dry skin brushing is quite easy to do once you know how. 

  1. Choose a brush–it should have stiff bristles, yet not be too abrasive. Boar bristle brushes are recommended, but there is a range of materials available. Some people prefer a brush with a long handle for hard-to-reach places, while others like one without a handle, for better control. Some brushes have removable handles for both options!
  2. Prepare yourself–the best time to dry skin brush is before a shower. This is when your skin is dry and the dead cells can lift off easily, and any remaining dead skin cells can be washed off in the shower. Many people like to complete their dry skin brushing in the shower stall itself, so the dead skin cells that are exfoliated will be restricted to landing there instead of around the whole bathroom. 
  3. Put the pressure on–the strokes should be applied using an even pressure; as hard as possible without causing pain or irritation to the skin. Long strokes are better than short, as this is the best way to push up lymphatic fluid. Each area of skin should be brushed several times, and the brush should overlap sections, to ensure no area of skin is missed. When brushing around bends such as joints, or smaller areas, your strokes will need to be shorter and more brisk. 
  4. Start from the bottom up–dry skin brushing is aimed at encouraging the flow of the lymphatic fluid towards the upper torso, where it will re-enter the bloodstream. The best guide is to follow the circulatory system. Below the heart, brush upwards, and above the heart, brush with downward strokes. Begin with the bottom then the top of the feet, each lower leg, the knees then the thighs and buttocks, brushing upwards. Proceed to the small of the back. When brushing the stomach, some like to brush in circular motions (thought to aid digestion) while others prefer long strokes. 
  5. Continue from the top down–for the upper part of the body, begin with the hands, and brush across the arms, toward the heart. Start with the back of the hands, then the front; the forearms and then the upper arms. Pay special attention to the armpits, as there are many lymph nodes in this area. 
  6. Finish with the neck and decolletage–this area has delicate skin, so take a gentle approach. Begin at the jawline and move down towards the chest. To end, go over the heart in a circular motion. 
  7. Enjoy a hot shower–this helps to clean off any loose dead skin cells from the body. Be mindful that the skin will now more easily absorb any products applied to it, since the outer layer has now been removed. This makes it all the more important to use healthy, natural beauty products that won’t release toxic chemicals into the bloodstream. 
  8. Make it a habit–dry skin brushing won’t make a big difference to your skin unless you make it a regular part of your health and beauty routine. 

Our body’s biggest organ plays a huge part in our body’s health. Take care of your skin for better health and a more youthful appearance.

Comments 1

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *