Want to refresh your skin and melt away stress? A visit to a nearby Turkish hammam can offer both. This article explains what Turkish hammams are, a bit of their history, the health benefits, and important precautions.
What are Turkish Hammams?
A Turkish hammam is a steam bath designed for cleansing, relaxation, and revitalizing the body. Common in many Muslim cultures, hammams are often built in Ottoman style with marble surfaces, warm towels, steam, essential oils, and other toiletries. People visit them not just to clean up, but to relax and enjoy various health benefits.
A brief history
Bathing rituals like the hammam go back thousands of years—ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used steam baths to refresh the body and mind. After the Roman period, Arab cultures adapted these practices into smaller public baths called “hammams,” which means “to warm” in Arabic. The tradition also drew on Byzantine customs and evolved into the Turkish hammam we know today, often using natural olive oil soap to cleanse and nourish the skin.
The Turkish hammam experience
A typical traditional hammam visit often includes time in a Rasul, a warm treatment room where you fully relax on a heated stone table while your body is cleaned. The session usually starts with an exfoliation using a Kese mitt—a coarse glove that removes dead skin and leaves the surface smooth. You may be surprised by how much skin comes off.
After scrubbing, you’ll be rinsed and lathered with olive-oil–based soap foam. The attendant forms large, soft foam bundles and gently washes you from hair to feet. Warm water rinses away the soap, and treatments like coconut cream or honey may be applied afterward to lock in moisture and add glow. Overall, the ritual aims for complete renewal—both physical and mental.
Sauna vs. Turkish bath
People sometimes mix up saunas and Turkish baths, but they’re different. Saunas are usually dry rooms made of wood, heated by a stove to around 50–85 °C. Turkish baths are wet, often lined with marble or stone, and rely on steam that moves through the room and settles back into the center.
Both treatments can improve circulation and promote heavy sweating, which helps cleanse the skin and support the lymphatic system. Cold showers after either treatment can further stimulate blood vessels and aid tissue regeneration.
Benefits of visiting a Turkish hammam
A hammam is more than a spa visit—it’s a traditional steam therapy with several potential benefits. A typical session includes relaxation, exfoliation, steam, rinsing, and massage, usually ending with time in the hararet (the steam room). Overall, hammam treatments can help reduce stress, boost hydration, and refresh the skin while supporting metabolism and circulation.
Immune support
The hot steam and deep sweating in a hammam can help flush toxins and support lymphatic flow. The rise in body temperature during the session can also mimic a mild fever, which may stimulate white blood cell production and strengthen immune response.
Muscle and joint relief
The scrub and massage used in hammams help release tight muscles and ease tension. Many people find relief from aches and conditions like arthritis through regular hammam visits.
Stress relief and skin care
A hammam promotes deep relaxation and mental calm. Benefits include:
– Deep relaxation and decreased stress
– Smoother, brighter skin from exfoliation
– Improved circulation
– Reduced appearance of cellulite
Health precautions
While hammams offer many benefits, they aren’t suitable for everyone. People who are sensitive to high heat and humidity may feel uncomfortable or dizzy. Those with kidney or cardiovascular conditions, certain infectious diseases, pregnant women, and women during menstruation are usually advised to avoid hammams.
Dehydration is a real risk because of heavy sweating, so drink plenty of fluids after your session—water, herbal teas, or fresh juices are good options. If you have any health concerns, check with your doctor before visiting a hammam to make sure it’s safe for you.