A handheld, therapeutic cleansing system includes a skin or body brush with a rotating bristle head and an associated water spray. The body brush includes a housing, a brush assembly connected to the housing, and a drive assembly for rotating the brush assembly. The brush assembly includes a plurality of bristles and is rotated by the drive assembly. The drive assembly may include a motor having a drive shaft, a worm gear coupled to the drive shaft of the motor and rotatable therewith, and at least one gear engaged with the worm gear and rotatable therewith. During operation, the at least one gear couples to the brush assembly and rotates the brush assembly as the worm gear rotates. Water spray is provided through a connection with a water supply and spray nozzles adjacent to the bristles.