Scrub & Foam — İskenderun

Scrub and foam is a centuries-old cleansing ritual of Turkish hamam culture. Skin softened first in a warm steam room is gently exfoliated with a natural kese mitt to lift away dead skin, and this is followed by a rich, warm soap foam massage that softens the skin and relaxes the body at a deeper level. This two-stage flow offers both a physical cleanse and a sensory escape — a ritual that has been part of Anatolia's hamam tradition for centuries and has lost none of its appeal in today's spa culture.

At Relax Spa VIP, the ritual follows the traditional order: warming, kese, foam and rinse. Our kese mitts are single-use or hygienically prepared for each guest, and a skin-friendly natural soap is used for the foam. During the kese stage, the therapist moves systematically along the body's natural lines, gradually easing off pressure over sensitive areas or any sign of sunburn.

Your therapist adjusts the intensity of the kese to your skin type — a gentler start for first-timers, or a more thorough exfoliation for guests with a regular hamam habit. A little redness is normal after the kese and usually fades quickly; it's simply a sign that dead skin has been effectively removed. Room temperature and humidity are carefully controlled throughout, so your skin never meets a sudden burst of cold air and your comfort is protected from start to finish.

This 45-minute ritual suits guests looking for smoother skin, preparing before tanning, or simply missing the hamam experience. Guests seeking a distinctive massage salon in İskenderun often notice their skin breathing more freely after the kese, with a freshness from the foam massage that can last for days. During the foam stage, your body seems to glide through clouds — a texture unlike anything else in our menu, and the most distinctive sensory moment of the ritual.

The steam that opens the session prepares the pores for the kese, while the massage performed within a cloud of warm foam delivers the unique relaxation that only hamam tradition can offer. After rinsing, your skin is dried with a soft towel, and a moisturiser can be applied if you'd like. Around seasonal transitions, especially before summer, many guests choose scrub and foam as a regular refresh ritual.

Guests with sunburn, an open wound, or any active skin condition should mention it before the kese stage begins, so the intensity can be calibrated safely for their skin. For anyone who wants to experience hamam tradition in its authentic form, or simply wants to give their skin genuine care, scrub and foam remains one of the most popular starting points. Avoiding direct sun exposure afterwards and using plenty of moisturiser helps the freshly exfoliated skin hold onto its effect for longer — a small habit that makes the ritual's benefit last for days.