A hamam (or hammam) is a kind of sauna found in particular in Arab countries, Iran, and Turkey. It is an important part of Islamic culture. Also known as a "Turkish Bath", the hamam is – in contrast to the Finnish sauna – not a dry bath. Rather, it employs steam. The hamam is usually made of marble, with a circular platform in the middle of the room upon which one can lie. Each visitor wraps a special towel around his loins.
Besides purifying themselves and sweating, visitors to the hamam can also receive a variety of beauty care treatments. After visiting the warm steam bath, there follows a phase of relaxation and rest in a cooler room.
Visitors to the Turkish steam bath can enhance their subjective feeling of well-being, reduce muscle tensions, and increase the flow of blood in their skin. The ageing of the skin is delayed.
Please note: It is recommended that people suffering from inflammations, acute infectious diseases, cardio-vascular diseases, vein thrombosis, or varicosities not visit a hamam, sauna, or steam bath!
