Dry Brushing: What It Actually Does for Your Skin (and How It Compares to a Body Scrub)

Updated September 2026

Dry brushing means sweeping a firm, natural-bristle brush over dry skin, usually right before a shower, to loosen dead surface cells. The benefit that holds up is exfoliation: skin feels smoother and can look brighter for a while. Claims that it drains lymph, detoxes your body or smooths out cellulite aren't supported by good evidence.

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing is a type of mechanical exfoliation, done without water or product. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes mechanical exfoliation as using a tool (a brush, pad or sponge) or a scrub to physically remove dead skin cells. A dry brush is the no-rinse version of that idea.

The usual tool is a brush with stiff natural bristles and a long handle so you can reach your back. You brush while your skin is completely dry, then shower to rinse away the loosened flakes.

It's popular because it's quick, cheap and feels invigorating. That's also why it has picked up a long list of promises it can't keep.

What are the real benefits of dry brushing?

Here's how the common claims stack up.

In Cleveland Clinic's dry brushing explainer, a dermatologist also describes dry brushing as gentler than scrubbing in the shower because it doesn't strip moisture. How true that is for you depends on your brush, your pressure and what you'd otherwise scrub with. Your skin's reaction is the best guide.

Does dry brushing get rid of cellulite?

No. Cleveland Clinic states plainly that no scientific evidence shows dry brushing reduces cellulite or how it looks. Any smoothing you notice right after brushing is most likely temporary plumping from increased blood flow.

Cellulite comes from the structure beneath your skin, where fat pushes against bands of connective tissue. Exfoliating the surface doesn't reach that structure, whether you use a brush, a glove or a scrub. For an honest look at what does and doesn't change it, see cellulite on the butt.

How do you dry brush safely?

These steps follow Cleveland Clinic's technique and the AAD's general exfoliation advice.

1. Pick a brush you can tolerate. Natural, fairly stiff bristles with a long handle are standard. If a firm brush feels scratchy, choose a softer one.
2. Start with fully dry skin, just before you shower.
3. Brush upward from your feet. Use long strokes on your legs and arms and circular motions on your torso and back.
4. Keep pressure light. Go even lighter on thinner, more sensitive areas like your belly, chest and neck. A few overlapping swipes per area is enough.
5. Skip anything that isn't intact. Avoid cuts, scrapes, sores, sunburn, infected or irritated skin, and brush around moles, warts and raised bumps.
6. Never brush your face. Use gentler options there.
7. Stop if you see redness or swelling. That's your skin telling you it's too much.
8. Shower, then moisturize. The AAD recommends applying moisturizer right after exfoliating, and its dry skin tips suggest putting it on while skin is still damp.
9. Let the brush dry between uses. Store it outside the shower so it isn't sitting damp.

On frequency, Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist suggests once a day before showering. The AAD's rule of thumb is that the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often you need it. If daily brushing leaves your skin tight, dry or irritated, cut back to a few times a week.

Dry brushing vs body scrub vs exfoliating gloves: which should you choose?

All three are mechanical exfoliation. The differences are when you use them, how much control you have, and how they feel.

That last row matters. The AAD notes that people with dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin may do better with a washcloth and a mild chemical exfoliant, because mechanical exfoliation can be too irritating. We compare the two approaches in physical vs chemical exfoliation.

If you'd rather use a scrub, Becky Booty Scrub is a fragrance-free walnut shell scrub made for damp skin in the shower. You mix a small scoop with water, massage in circles and rinse, and it cleanses while it exfoliates. The formula includes aloe leaf juice, glycerin, and jojoba, sunflower and rosehip seed oils. It tends to suit people who find brushes scratchy or want exfoliation built into their wash. Like a dry brush, it works on the surface, so it doesn't change cellulite. For technique, see how to use a body scrub.

Can you dry brush and use a scrub in the same week?

Yes, just not on the same skin on the same day. Both methods rely on friction, so stacking them doubles the work your skin has to recover from. A simple way to split a week:

• Day 1: Dry brush before your shower, then moisturize.
• Days 2–3: Wash normally and moisturize. No exfoliating.
• Day 4: Use a scrub in the shower, then moisturize.
• Rest of the week: One more session of either, only if your skin feels comfortable.

If you also use a leave-on acid lotion or a retinoid on your body, count it as exfoliation too and scale the brushing and scrubbing back.

Who should skip dry brushing?

• Anyone with broken, sunburned, infected or irritated skin in the area.
• People in an eczema or psoriasis flare, or with an active rash. Brushing inflamed skin adds friction it doesn't need.
• People using retinoids, retinol or benzoyl peroxide on that skin. The AAD notes these can make skin more sensitive or prone to peeling.
• People with darker skin who get dark spots after irritation. The AAD advises avoiding strong mechanical or chemical exfoliation in that case.
• People with dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin who find it stings or leaves them red.
• Anyone with lots of raised moles or bumps in the area. Brush around them, or skip that area.

If your skin reacts to most things, start with our sensitive-skin butt care routine before adding any exfoliation.

FAQ

How often should you dry brush?

Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist suggests up to once a day, right before you shower. Treat that as a ceiling, not a target. If your skin feels tight, dry or irritated, brush a few times a week instead, and always moisturize afterward.

Is dry brushing actually good for you?

It's a reasonable way to exfoliate if your skin tolerates it. The benefits are cosmetic: skin that feels smoother and looks brighter for a while. It isn't a detox or lymph treatment, and it doesn't change cellulite.

Is dry brushing good for ingrown hairs?

Gentle exfoliation is often part of an ingrown-hair routine because it loosens dead skin around the hair, but we didn't find research on dry brushing for ingrowns specifically. Don't brush over red, swollen or pus-filled bumps. More in ingrown hairs on the butt.

Should you dry brush before or after a shower?

Before. The brush is designed for fully dry skin. Shower afterward to rinse off the loosened skin, then apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.

Can dry brushing damage skin?

It can if you press too hard, brush too often or brush over broken or irritated skin. Redness, stinging, scratches and flaking are signs to stop. People with darker skin tones should be especially gentle, because irritation can leave dark spots behind.