In 2022, we're continuing to preach self-love. Loving yourself is so important for your mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life. That's not to say that we always appreciate every inch of ourselves -- and that's ok! It's perfectly fine to want to tweak a few things here or there for the sake of your happiness or a boost to your confidence. With that being said, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, and other scars are among some of the most common insecurities in our society. That's why in this article, we'll discuss a method that can help diminish the appearance of these "blemishes"-- dry brushing!
What is dry brushing?
A dry brush is usually round with medium-soft bristles that may include little nodules that help massage and improve blood circulation. The brush either has a long handle or fits in the palm of your hand. Using circular motions, you gently "brush" your DRY skin to exfoliate it. The dry brush will aid in removal of dead skin cells and will soften the skin pre-moisturizer. If your brush has nodules then massaging an area with cellulite with your brush can help improve the blood flow of the area which may aid and getting rid of that as well.
What Causes Stretch Marks in the First Place?
According to the American Association of Dermatology, stretch marks are formed during periods of rapid weight loss/gain, pregnancy, and growth spurts during puberty. The skin is quickly stretched in the area which causes the scars to form. These scars are formed deep in the dermis layer of your skin. Unfortunately, like most scars, you can't fully get rid of them, which is why creams and lotions that claim to get rid of them never seem to work. At most, they may aid in the prevention of stretch marks, but even that claim is still be researched.
So Does it Work?
Short answer: Kind-of.
Dry brushing is a form of exfoliation that goes a little deeper than the typical salt or sugar scrubs. This means that you're removing dead skin on a deeper level and stimulating skin cells so that produce a new, softer layer of skin. The reason you can't get rid of stretch marks completely is because of how deep they are when they form in the dermis. However, newer stretch marks are easier to get rid of than older ones. That's why the earlier you start to use this method when you notice them, the more success you'll have at making them nearly invisible. Older stretch marks just require a longer treatment in order to start seeing results.
Stretch marks are a natural part of our bodies. Although we've all been conditioned to abhor them, we should embrace them as a part of our ever-changing bodies. Things like this don't define your beauty or your worth in any way. That being said there is absolutely no shame in wanting to get rid of them either!
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