I recently remembered this round little dry brush that had been collecting toilet paper dust in my bathroom.
I had purchased it years ago during my gotta-self-diagnose, gotta-find-something phase before any doctor seemed to understand and before I was officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2013.
Did you ever go through that phase?
When everything has been hurting and evolving, you get tied up in Google search after Google search?
You get it.
To find comfort in a name, a diagnosis, a relief source, or find someone like you who shares the intensity of the marathon you’re running through.
Google is your best friend or worst nightmare. To me, anyway.
While it took me forever to finally realize its benefits, I’m hooked on dry brushing.
Dry brushing takes me a minute to do before I shower, and it helps ease the stiffness that builds up in my body from a long day.
This post explains the benefits of dry brushing if you have Fibromyalgia. I’ll teach you how to dry brush at the end of this post so you can do it too!
Who should dry brush?
Dry brushing is great for almost anyone with skin, but the skin stimulation can be especially beneficial for those suffering from Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia affects the muscles and nerves, and for some, nerve stimulation via brushing the skin can feel soothing and relieve pain.
If you have sensitive skin or conditions like psoriasis or eczema, you may want to brush gently and not on broken or irritated skin.
Do you ever feel like you have:
- cemented fiery legs
- cemented fiery arms
- hips that are on FIRE
- hips that feel like fucking cement
Basically, I feel like I am a mobile block of cement still attached to the truck as it continually runs me over.
Do you ever feel like that?
Dry brushing:
- makes my legs feel not so ‘angry’
- makes my arms come alive again
- quiets down the electric fury that almost constantly boils on high in my hips
- loosens up that ‘cement’ feeling in my entire body
- energizes then calms the skin
I like dry brushing because it’s an easy, quick way to provide myself some pain relief, especially on those flare-up days when I am exhausted and can barely move.
I brush and brush and brush (gently, of course, and only what I can comfortably handle) before I hop in the shower.
What is dry brushing?
Dry brushing is when you brush a soft-bristle brush all over your body, particularly stroking towards your heart (it’s better to dry towards your heart where your lymphatic system drains).
Dry brushing exfoliates your skin, boosts its softness, and increases your blood circulation.
It’s usually done before a shower so the water sloughs off the dead skin you scrub off.
There are also claims (but little scientific evidence) that dry brushing reduces cellulite.
While I have some cellulite, it’s currently not that big of a deal for me (hello growth mindset — because who really gives a shit?) so I haven’t paid close attention to whether or not I see results on that.
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Benefits of dry brushing
From better blood circulation to energized skin, here are four benefits of dry brushing you can enjoy.
1. Promotes circulation
Dry brushing promotes circulation by stimulating the flow of lymph fluid that runs in the lymph vessels just below your skin.
As you run the dry brush over your skin, the bristles open up your pores and stimulate them, helping to release sweat and toxins.
This lymph contains white blood cells, called lymphocytes, that attack bacteria in the blood and fight foreign invaders. It’s all part of your lymphatic system, part of your immune system.
Dry brushing may help boost your immunity and speed up healing.
I don’t know about you, but I am down and out for weeks when I get sick. I may not be physically sick for weeks, but my ass will be dragging for the next month.
I got sick when we took our son to Disney with my parents last month for the first time.
A flare the size of Splash Mountain hit me the next day, and then I got sick the day after that. And I am still dragging my ass here because of it.
And side note: Dry brushing is also a cheaper alternative to getting a massage. Many people with Fibro swear by their massages – I’m not one of them.
One day…
The average price of a dry brush: is $10
The average price of a massage: is $75
Enjoy that extra cash or Disney + for a year.
2. Exfoliates the body
Dry brushing helps your skin exfoliate by brushing off dead skin cells, keeping your skin feeling smooth.
The bristles unclog pores and slough off dead skin as you dry brush your body.
This process speeds up cell renewal, which results in a softer, smoother bodysuit.
Of course, your skin already does a fine job on its own and has your entire life (or did you come out of the vuh-jay-jay with a dry brush?), but it never hurts to add a little help.
However, if you are over 30 or inching towards it (*raises hand*), your body is likely producing less collagen and elastin, which keeps skin supple.
Dry brushing amps up cell renewal which encourages the production of both.
3. Energizes the skin
Dry brushing stimulates the skin, giving it this momentary “awakened” sensation due to increased blood circulation.
Dry brushing stimulates your nervous system like exercise does but doesn’t leave you sore.
And uh…I love to dry brush throughout the day for a quick energy boost.
I can get an energy boost in ten seconds while I take a potty break during lunchtime or before I go outside to play with my toddler.
Or before I make dinner and have to stand for an hour, my legs are on fire and want to quit.
Quick, natural energy and relieves pain. I’m IN!
4. Reduces cellulite...possibly
I read many articles online that listed cellulite reduction as a benefit, though I also read some stating there was no scientific evidence to back up that claim.
Which is correct? It turns out it’s a little of both.
Dry brushing may cause a temporary cellulite reduction, though it’s unlikely you’ll see sweeping results from dry brushing alone.
So, how does dry brushing temporarily reduce the look of cellulite?
When you dry brush, your circulation increases, which causes the tiny capillaries under your skin to widen and allow more blood flow under the surface of your skin.
Widening capillaries makes your skin supple and plump, and that is why the cellulite on your skin looks to have magically disappeared.
All that blood flow to the surface is why your skin turns pink as you dry brush.
How to dry brush
Learning how to dry brush isn’t complicated.
Get a dry brush of your choosing and follow these steps:
1. Start at the tops of your feet, brushing upwards towards your legs.
2. Brush your ankles, then calves, making your way up the legs and thighs
3. Brush your booty and back, moving up towards your heart.
4. Brush your fingers, palms, the tops of the hands, and all over your arms.
5. Brush your chest and stomach in circular, clockwise motions (this is the way food moves through your intestines, so you’re aiding digestion this way).
6. Brush that dirt off yo’ shoulders, too, brushing down.
7. Take a shower and enjoy your revitalized skin!
Which dry brush should you choose?
There are many dry brushes you can choose from, and some you can find at the local supermarket.
Choose a brush with natural bristles and avoid synthetic ones — the latter is often too harsh for the skin.
There are also different handle lengths (to help massage hard-to-reach areas or for travel), and some are made with animal products and without.
I use this dry brush.
There are also brush sets.
Or you can be extra hip with a vegan brush made with cactus bristles.
It’s recommended to replace brushes every 6-12 months and wash them every few weeks.
My experience
I don’t just dry brush before I shower, like what is typically recommended.
I typically dry brush throughout the day when I feel like I need it.
Usually, it’s my arms and legs because they remain pretty stiff throughout the day. After a quick bathroom break, there is usually a quick dry brush break – and to me, it really makes a difference.
I will also sometimes do a couple of sweeps here and there while I’m watching TV or reading.
Is it weird that I leave my dead skin floating around midday? I don’t care.
The pain relief outweighs any of that. Plus, a few strokes is all I need to get through the day.
(That’s what she said!)
Your takeaway
When you are too tired to exercise or too broke to get a message, and your body is just flaunting its Fibro flare, pick up your dry brush.
As long as your skin isn’t feeling too sensitive or irritated, dry brushing is a great way to stimulate the skin and give yourself a quick, pain-relieving, energizing boost.
If you have Fibromyalgia, you know how critical your energy reserve and pain threshold is!
Do you have Fibromyalgia and dry brush?
How does dry brushing make your skin feel, especially during a flare?
Please share below!
2 replies on “Why You Should Dry Brush If You Have Fibromyalgia”
This is an incredible article on 2 unique topics. Thank you for being so honest and thorough! With fibro, it is tough to find genuine research that can apply to daily life, with tips that don’t break the bank. Excited to try this!
Thanks Lauren! Glad you found it helpful.
Fingers crossed dry brushing brings you some relief!