Korean Red Scrub
Akasuri Body Treatment
In ancient Korea and Japan, personal baths were reserved for people of
nobility. The common people patronized bathhouses, where in addition to a
decadent bath and gossip with neighbors, they had access to a unique form of
exfoliating body scrub called akasuri. Woodcuts from the 19th Century often
depict akasuri, wherein attendants scrubbed the backs of seated bathers. Known
also as a "red scrub" or Korean-style body scrub because of its
origins on the Korean peninsula, akasuri tones and restores vitality to skin by
first relaxing and cleansing the pores, and then any remaining bacteria, dirt,
and dead skin cells are whisked away during a vigorous rub down that will leave
you feeling remarkably smooth and clean.
Akasuri, which is itself a Japanese word meaning 'red' (aka) and 'to rub'
(suru), begins with a brief visit to a steam room, sauna, or even a hot shower
or bath, which will soften your skin in preparation for the scrub itself. In
Korean spas, there is a traditional rough-surfaced towel used only for akasuri,
but you may use an exfoliating mitt or loofah sponge with soap or lotion to
thoroughly scrub, clean, and massage your body, sloughing off impurities and
exposing newer, youthful skin. Though it may leave your skin looking a bit red
at first (hence the "red scrub"), the brisk massage will promote
increased circulation, stimulate the lymph system, and cleanse your skin as
never before. Finally, you rinse in a second bath or shower and may choose to
apply your favorite lotion.
As a traditional beauty treatment, akasuri is one way to immerse yourself in
Korean culture, where bathing and cleanliness represent the spiritual
experience of washing one's soul and purifying oneself. Though it may be
performed by a professional in a spa, akasuri can just as effectively be done
at home, in the privacy of your own bathroom. Either way, you will be left
feeling clean and calm, with skin so smooth you'll glow.
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