Have you ever felt like a skincare active (like tretinoin) works well for your skin concerns, but feels harsh or damages your skin barrier? This might be your sign to try short contact therapy. Short Contact Therapy, or SCT, is a technique where you apply an active ingredient or a potent skincare product for a short duration of time and then rinse it off, as opposed to leaving it on. How does it work, you ask? Strong skincare products can potentially lead to inflammation, causing redness and irritation. However, applying the product for only a short duration can minimise the harmful effects, while still benefiting from the ingredient.
If you’re already using an active ingredient as a leave-on product and haven’t noticed any major signs of irritation or compromised skin barrier, you’re likely on the right path already. However, if you want to introduce a new active ingredient into your skincare routine, and want to gauge whether applying the Short Contact Therapy or using it as a leave-on product will work better for you, the key is to listen to your skin. While having highly sensitive skin might be a clear indicator that the Short Contact Therapy might work better for you, in certain cases, it’ll take trial-and-error, depending on the product, before you figure out the correct way forward. Dr Priyanka Gupta, dermatologist and co-founder of V6 Clinics, explains, “Short contact therapy is typically recommended for people with sensitive, reactive, or compromised skin who may not tolerate leaving certain active ingredients on for extended periods. If your skin is already well-adjusted to a product and shows no signs of irritation, it can usually be used as a leave-on treatment as advised. The decision should always be based on your skin type, the strength of the active ingredient, and the guidance of a dermatologist rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.”
After washing the face, allow it to dry completely before putting on the active. Using any product damp skin increases the product absorption, thereby making it more harsh on the skin. “Start with shorter durations and gradually increase the contact time only if your skin tolerates it well,” states Dr Gupta. “Avoid combining multiple potent actives during the same routine, as this can increase the risk of irritation,” she adds. Our pro-tip is to use a super nourishing moisturiser with hydrating ingredients that will soothe the skin. Dr Gupta also stresses on the importance of a sunscreen while using products like retinoids or exfoliating acids.
Now that you might have discovered that you want to try the short contact therapy based on your skin type or the product that you’re working with, how long should you leave the product on? The correct way to go about it is by starting small, and working your way to a longer duration. “The duration will vary depending on the ingredient and the individual's skin tolerance. In most cases, short contact therapy begins with around 15 to 30 minutes before the product is washed off, although some formulations may require even shorter or slightly longer contact periods. As the skin adapts, the contact time can be gradually increased,” points out Dr Gupta.