Venues offering Body Scrub

A body scrub is a treatment in which the layer of dead skin on the body is removed with a granular mixture. The mixture is usually made by combining sea salt, sugar or ground coffee beans with an oil (coconut, olive, almond) and often with essential oils. After a scrub the skin feels softer and absorbs moisturising products better.

At most spas a body scrub is offered not on its own but as part of a programme. All of the listed venues also offer hammam, kese (exfoliating scrub) and facial services; among them are three hotel spas in Istanbul, a hotel spa in Ankara's Çankaya district and a hammam in Side, Antalya.

How is a body scrub done?

A body scrub is done on a massage table or in a wet treatment room. In most places you are given disposable underwear and the areas not being worked on are covered with a towel; arrangements vary by venue. The session usually runs in this order:

1. The skin is softened with a warm shower, the sauna or the steam room; not every programme includes this step.
2. The mixture is applied in circular movements, working upwards from the feet; the legs, arms, back and torso are treated in turn. This mixture is not applied to the face; finer products are used for the face.
3. The mixture is removed with a shower or warm towels.
4. Moisturiser or body oil is applied to the skin.

A scrub is often added to a programme before a body mask or massage, to prepare the skin.

The difference between salt, sugar and coffee scrubs

Body scrub mixtures feel different depending on their grain; the choice is made according to how sensitive your skin is and when you last shaved or had hair removal.

Duration, frequency and aftercare

On its own a body scrub takes 30-45 minutes; combined with a mask or massage the programme is longer. Once every 2-4 weeks is enough; more frequent treatment weakens the skin's protective barrier. Temporary redness after a scrub is normal. Avoid waxing, shaving and direct sun exposure for 24 hours; after a scrub the skin is more sensitive to the sun.

What a body scrub does and does not change

A body scrub smooths the texture of the skin and noticeably softens dry, flaky areas such as elbows, knees and heels; the circular movements during application temporarily increase circulation. The effect is temporary: as the skin renews itself, dead skin builds up again. A scrub does not permanently change the appearance of cellulite, does not make you lose weight and has no function such as removing toxins from the body; be cautious about programmes sold with these promises. If the appearance of cellulite is a priority for you, you can also look at what cellulite treatment, carried out as a course of sessions, does and does not offer.

How it differs from kese and body treatments

A body scrub is most often confused with kese. Kese is done in the wet, hot environment of the hammam with a woven mitt and is a more mechanical, more intensive process. A body scrub, by contrast, is applied with a granular product on a massage table or in a wet room; it is usually gentler and contains a moisturising oil. Because it does not rely on warming up in the hammam, it is also an option for people who do not like hot environments. A body treatment, meanwhile, is a broader programme that can include a scrub; it brings together exfoliation, mask, massage and moisturising steps.

Who should not have one?

A body scrub is applied to intact, unirritated skin. It is not applied over active eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, open wounds, new tattoos, active acne or fresh scars. Wait at least 48-72 hours after waxing or laser hair removal. If you have diabetes or take blood thinners, ask for the pressure to be kept light. If you are pregnant, say so; a mixture without essential oils should be chosen, and warming steps such as the sauna and steam room should be left out of the programme. Tell them if you are allergic to any of the oils or fragrances used.

Price and questions to ask before booking

When a body scrub is booked on its own, the length and the product used determine the price; more often, though, it is offered as a package with a mask, massage or hammam ritual, and the cost depends on what the package includes. Whether use of the wet area is included, the type of venue, and weekend and seasonal differences also play a part; details are in the guide to what determines spa prices. When booking, you could ask:

• Which mixture is used; can you choose between salt, sugar and coffee?
• Is the scrub offered on its own or together with a mask or massage?
• Which oils and essences does the mixture contain?
• Is there a shower afterwards, and is disposable underwear provided?