All you need to know about contrast therapy

We’ve all heard of heat therapy and cold therapy. But how many of us have heard of contrast therapy? Contrast therapy has been a secret holy grail in not just recovery but also in skin care. Before we delve into the joys of contrast therapy, let's talk about heat and cold therapy. 

Heat therapy 

Heat therapy is well known in recovery. It is known for its ability to provide pain relief by increasing blood flow. Even the Therabody Theragun Mini Plus has heated percussive massage which is 3 times more effective as compared to a regular percussive massage. When heat is applied, the blood vessels in the area expand, improving circulation and allowing for more oxygen to be delivered to the area, speeding up recovery.

Even in skincare, heat therapy is used. Steaming our faces to get rid of impurities and using heated under eye masks all count as heat therapy despite the temperature being significantly lower as compared to that used in recovery. 

Cold therapy

Okay enough about the much adored heat therapy, lets talk cold. Cold therapy is loved for its ability to reduce inflammation. Often, when we are faced with a minor sprain, we are told to place an ice pack over it. Ever wondered why? The cold constricts blood flow, reducing inflammation and swelling of the area. It also numbs the nerve endings which helps reduce the pain you feel. Similar to heat therapy, cold therapy is also loved in skincare. Ice rolling, one of the most popular forms of cold therapy, uses ice to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. 

Contrast therapy

Contrast therapy however, is not something as widely adopted as heat or cold therapy. Contrast therapy combines heat and cold therapy by expanding and constricting blood vessels. We may think this cancels out the benefit of each therapy, however, it does the opposite. Contrast therapy creates a pumping effect, making the blood vessels constrict and dilate more than it originally would with just cold and heat therapy alone. 

Contrast therapy in recovery

In terms of recovery, the pumping effect from contrast therapy helps reduce inflammation, improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles and stimulates lymphatic drainage. With that being said, you may wonder how to do contrast therapy for recovery. That is where the Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube comes into play. 

The Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube offers 3 types of therapy, heat, cold and contrast, all in just one device. This means that if you still prefer just heat or cold therapy, all you’d need to do is press either the heat or cold button to activate that specific therapy. From there, you will be able to choose the temperature levels according to your need. This device however, makes contrast therapy much easier. Merely hold down on both buttons to turn on contrast therapy and the Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube will automatically switch between heat and cold therapy, delivering contrast therapy. No thinking required. To take convenience a step further, you are able to strap on the Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube and adjust it to sit exactly where you need the therapy. This allows you to enjoy the therapy while keeping your hands free so you can carry on about your day. 

Contrast therapy in skincare

Similar to its use in recovery, contrast therapy in skincare also helps with lymphatic drainage, reducing the puffy look. Not only that, it encourages blood circulation and skin detox, improves our skin’s tone and texture and supports collagen production. Does this mean that you’ll need to repetitively steam your face then ice roll it then steam it again? NO! Because 1. Contrast therapy in recovery and skincare is vastly different and 2. The Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand exists!

The main difference between contrast therapy in recovery in skincare and in recovery would be in the way it is done. For recovery, there is a need for a rapid change in temperature to create the pumping effect. However, skincare is much different. 

Press the heat button on the Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand to create brighter glow through the increase of blood flow and most notably should be used on a clean face to open up your pores, maximising the absorption of skincare products. Massage half of your face in an outward direction until the device flashes. Then, move to the other side of your face until the device turns off. When you’re done applying the heat therapy, apply your serums and moisturiser before moving to cold therapy. Now that your pores are open, your skincare would absorb better. 

Press the cold button and repeat the same process. The cold helps lock in the skincare used by tightening your pores, boosting the effectiveness of your serums. The cold helps reduce fine lines, inflammation and puffiness. If you’re using this in the morning, I can assure you that you’ll feel fresh and ready to start your day! 

When it comes to doing contrast therapy on your face, it is important to ensure you're using the right temperatures, preventing the risk of damaging your skin barriers. When it comes to ice rolling and even steaming, it can be hard to control the temperature, placing you at a higher risk of damaging your skin barrier. Hence why the Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand comes with 3 science-backed temperatures per setting. Just pick the temperature you’re most comfortable with and start the therapy!

Contrast therapy is something that has existed for decades. From hot onsens to cool pools in Japan and running out of saunas straight into snow in Nordic cultures, it is no doubt that contrast therapy is something indulged in, possibly without us even knowing. However, with the modern busy lifestyle, how often do we have the time to really indulge in these spa-like experiences. This is why gadgets like the Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube and Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand exist. It brings spa to you. 

Author- Nat