The quick version: To use an Italy towel, soak in a warm bath or shower for 15 to 30 minutes, put the mitt on, and scrub damp, soap-free skin with firm but comfortable strokes, then rinse and moisturize. Use it on the body, not the face, and only occasionally. Never use it on sunburned, broken or irritated skin, and go lighter over bony areas.
The Italy towel is the small, scratchy mitt behind the famous Korean body scrub. It’s a fixture of Korean bathing culture. Despite the name, there’s nothing Italian about how it’s used.
Used well, an Italy towel leaves body skin remarkably smooth. Used too hard or too often, it can leave skin raw. Here is how to get the first result without the second.
What’s inside
What an Italy towel is
The Italy towel (이태리타월) is a coarse exfoliating cloth, usually sewn into a mitt, used to scrub dead skin from the body. Korea JoongAng Daily describes the classic version as the green, sandpaper-like exfoliating cloth that, from the 1960s, made exfoliation more effective and helped define Korea’s signature scrubbing method (Korea JoongAng Daily).
The name is a piece of industrial history. According to The Korea Times, the Italy towel was first developed in Busan; as the story goes, a textile company called Hanil Textile imported a rough Italian fabric in 1967 and came up with the idea of using it to scrub skin (The Korea Times). The fabric’s origin stuck as the product’s name.
It’s the same tool professional scrubbers use in bathhouses and jjimjilbang. For the full cultural picture, read our guide to the Korean body scrub.
Worth remembering
- Soak first. Softened skin comes off with far less pressure.
- Scrub damp skin without soap, in firm but comfortable strokes, then rinse and moisturize.
- Body only. The face is too delicate for this level of friction.
- Use it occasionally, and never on sunburned, broken or irritated skin.
How to use an Italy towel
1. Soak until your skin is soft
This is the step people skip, and the reason home scrubs often disappoint. In Korean bathhouses, guests soak in warm water for some 20 to 30 minutes so that dead skin cells come off more easily (The Korea Herald). At home, a warm bath is ideal; a long shower works if you let the water run over each area. Keep the water warm rather than hot. If your skin runs dry, note that the AAD suggests limiting baths and showers to five to 10 minutes for dry skin (AAD), so a shorter soak and a lighter scrub may suit you better.
2. Skip the soap
Scrub damp skin, not lathered skin. Soap makes the mitt glide over the surface instead of gripping softened skin. Wash with a gentle cleanser afterward if you like.
3. Scrub with steady, comfortable pressure
Slip the mitt over your hand and work in long, even strokes on one area at a time: arms, legs, torso. Firm is fine; painful is not. If skin turns bright red or stings, ease off. Go lighter over bony areas such as shins, elbows and collarbones, where repeated hard rubbing is linked to darkening of the skin (more on that below).
4. Rinse often
Rinse the mitt and your skin as you go. The gray rolls that appear are softened dead skin from the outermost layer. They look dramatic, but you don’t need to chase every last one.
5. Moisturize right away
Freshly exfoliated skin dries out quickly. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends applying moisturizer immediately after exfoliating (AAD), and for dry skin it suggests patting dry and applying moisturizer while skin is still damp, favoring creams or ointments over lotions (AAD).
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Soak for 15 to 30 minutes first | Scrub dry or barely wet skin |
| Use long, even strokes | Grind back and forth on one spot |
| Go lighter on bony areas | Press hard over shins, elbows and collarbones |
| Moisturize immediately | Follow with acids or retinoids the same day |
| Save it for occasional use | Use it daily |
| Keep it for the body | Use it on your face |
How often to use it
Less often than you think. The AAD’s general rule is that the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often you should do it, and it cautions that over-exfoliating leaves skin red and irritated (AAD). An Italy towel after a long soak is on the aggressive end of at-home exfoliation. For most people, that means an occasional ritual with weeks between full scrubs, not a part of every shower.
Your skin will tell you when you’ve overdone it: tightness, stinging when you apply moisturizer, redness that lingers or patches that look shiny and thin. Give it a break until it feels normal again.
Why gentle matters over time
Habitual hard scrubbing has a documented downside. Dermatologists have described friction melanosis, brownish pigmentation over bony areas of the trunk and limbs, in people who used nylon towels, scrub brushes or rough sponges over long periods (Siragusa et al., 2001). In a study of 13 patients in Jordan, repetitive rubbing with loofahs or towels was linked to the condition, with rough materials and darker skin types listed as contributing factors; the authors advised avoiding rough scrub pads (Al-Aboosi et al., 2004). The AAD separately warns that aggressive exfoliation can leave dark spots on darker skin tones.
Who should skip it
The AAD says to never exfoliate sunburned skin or skin with open cuts or wounds, and notes that people with dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin may find mechanical exfoliation too irritating (AAD). Skip the Italy towel, or ask a dermatologist first, if:
- You’re sunburned, or your skin is cut, scraped or broken.
- You have an active rash, eczema or psoriasis flare.
- You use a prescription retinoid or other treatment on your body that makes skin sensitive. The AAD notes that exfoliating on top of retinoids or benzoyl peroxide can worsen dryness.
- You have a darker skin tone and tend to develop dark marks after irritation. Use very light pressure, or choose a gentler method.
- You bruise easily or have fragile skin.
Check with a dermatologist if
- Scrubbing leaves skin raw, weeping or bleeding.
- You notice brown or gray patches developing over bony areas.
- A scraped area becomes warm, swollen or painful, which can signal infection.
- You have a chronic skin condition and aren’t sure exfoliation is safe for you.
Caring for your mitt
- Rinse it thoroughly after each use and hang it to dry completely.
- Keep it for yourself; don’t share mitts.
- Replace it when it loses texture or starts to look worn.
- Keep it out of your face routine. For the face, a gentle cleanser and the steps in our Korean skincare routine guide are enough.
After a scrub, protect any newly exfoliated skin that will see the sun. Our guide to Korean sunscreen covers lightweight body-friendly options.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called an Italy towel?
Because of the fabric. The Korea Times reports that the mitt was first developed in Busan after a textile company imported a rough Italian fabric in 1967.
Can I use an Italy towel on my face?
It’s not a good idea. Facial skin is thinner and more reactive, and the AAD advises gentle methods for sensitive skin. Keep the Italy towel for the body.
Should I use soap with an Italy towel?
Scrub first on damp, soap-free skin so the mitt can grip softened dead cells. Wash with a gentle cleanser afterward if you want.
Is it normal for so much skin to come off?
Yes, after a long soak. The gray rolls are softened dead skin. If you’re scrubbing until skin turns raw to see more, you’re going too hard.
Do the different colors mean different textures?
Colors and textures vary by maker, and there isn’t a universal standard. Read the package, and if you’re new to it or have sensitive skin, start with the softest option you can find.
Sources
- Woo Ji-won. “Mugwort, milk and moisturizer: How old Korean spa treatments are luring young tourists.” Korea JoongAng Daily, 2025. koreajoongangdaily.com
- Park Jin-hai. “Busan couple documents Korea’s bathhouse heritage.” The Korea Times, 2025. koreatimes.co.kr
- Choi Jae-hee. “Going solo: Korean body scrubs adapt to pandemic.” The Korea Herald, 2022. koreaherald.com
- American Academy of Dermatology. “How to safely exfoliate at home.” AAD, 2026. aad.org
- American Academy of Dermatology. “Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin.” AAD, 2026. aad.org
- Siragusa M, Ferri R, Cavallari V, Schepis C. “Friction melanosis, friction amyloidosis, macular amyloidosis, towel melanosis: many names for the same clinical entity.” European Journal of Dermatology, 2001. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Al-Aboosi M, Abalkhail A, Kasim O, et al. “Friction melanosis: a clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural study in Jordanian patients.” International Journal of Dermatology, 2004. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If a product irritates your skin, stop using it and check with a dermatologist.