Yes, red light therapy can work through some types of clothing, but exposing your skin is the best way to maximize your results. In this guide, you’ll learn what to wear during treatment and how to prepare for your session.
Key Takeaways
- Near-infrared light passes through thin fabrics more effectively than red light, but both are partially blocked by clothing.
- Fabric thickness matters more than color.
- For full-body red light therapy, most people wear underwear or a bikini.
- Remove makeup, sunscreen, and heavy lotions before your session.
Does Red Light Therapy Work Through Clothes?
Red light therapy can go through some types of clothing, but for the best results, you should expose the area you want to treat.
This study supports the idea that 850 nm near-infrared light can pass through many types of clothing. However, red light therapy uses wavelengths between 600 and 850 nm, and different wavelengths may not pass through clothing equally well.
More importantly, when asking if red light therapy works through clothing, the key factor is whether enough light reaches your skin to produce the desired effects.
Since there is limited research confirming the effectiveness of red light therapy through clothing, we recommend exposing as much skin as possible during your session. This applies whether you are using an at-home device or a medical-grade red light therapy bed.
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Red Light vs Near-Infrared: Why Fabric Matters
The type of light your device uses also affects how clothing impacts your treatment. Red light, which typically ranges from 600 to 850 nm, is more easily blocked by fabric. Even thin clothing can reduce the amount of light that reaches your skin.
Near-infrared light, which falls between 800 and 850 nm, penetrates deeper into the body and generally passes through thin and light-colored fabrics more effectively. However, clothing could still reduce the amount of light that reaches the treatment area.
For the most consistent results, expose your skin whenever possible, regardless of whether your device uses red light, near-infrared light, or both.
What Fabrics Work Best (and What to Wear)
If you want the best fabric for red light therapy, thinner materials are generally the better choice. Research found that 850 nm near-infrared light passed through multiple layers of thin cotton, polyester, and cotton-polyester blends, although the amount of transmitted light decreased with each additional layer.
On the other hand, fabrics such as denim, thick cotton towels, and wool blocked much more of the light. Wool was particularly effective at reducing light transmission because its fibers scatter light more than smoother fabrics.
The same study also found that fabric color had little effect on how much 850 nm near-infrared light passed through the material. Thickness and fabric type mattered much more than whether the clothing was light or dark.
| Fabric | Light Penetration | Verdict |
| Thin cotton, polyester, and cotton-polyester blends | Moderate to high | Best choice if you cannot expose your skin |
| Denim, wool, heavy knits | Low | Avoid during treatment |
| Dark colors (any fabric) | Similar to lighter colors | Color has little impact compared to fabric thickness |
What to Wear for Red Light Therapy
For full-body red light therapy, expose as much skin as possible to allow the light to reach the treatment areas without obstruction. Wearing underwear or a bikini is usually the best option during a session.
If you’re using an at-home red light therapy device, uncover the specific area you plan to treat. For example, if you’re treating your knee, shoulder, or lower back, expose that area instead of shining the light through clothing.
You may want to learn how people combine red light therapy and tanning.
Do You Undress for a Red Light Therapy Session?
For the best results, expose the skin you want to treat. The more direct contact the light has with your skin, the more effective your session can be.
Here at SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa, most of our clients who use full-body red light therapy choose to undress to their comfort level. Many wear underwear or a bikini.
Can You Do Red Light Therapy Naked?
Yes, you can fully undress if you want the light to reach as much of your skin as possible.
Your privacy is always respected. You’ll have a private treatment room and a robe to use before and after your session, so you can feel comfortable throughout your visit.
What About Makeup, Sunscreen, and Lotions?
Anything that sits on your skin has the potential to affect how much light reaches the treatment area.
Can You Do Red Light Therapy With Makeup?
It’s best to remove makeup before your session. Foundation, concealer, and other cosmetic products may reduce the amount of light that reaches your skin, especially if applied in thick layers.
Can You Wear Sunscreen?
It’s generally best to remove sunscreen before your session. Since you are not being exposed to UV rays, sunscreen isn’t needed during treatment and may create an unnecessary barrier on the skin.
Should You Apply Lotion Before?
No, it’s better to start with clean skin. Heavy creams, thick lotions, or ointments may reduce light penetration.
The same applies to red light therapy lotions. These are usually applied after the session, unless the product instructions specify otherwise.
Make sure to read this to learn how to combine retinol and red light therapy for the best results.
FAQ
Does red light therapy work through black or dark clothing?
It’s always best to expose your skin during red light therapy. One study found little difference in how 850 nm near-infrared light passed through fabrics of different colors, suggesting that color alone does not significantly impact light transmission. However, red light therapy typically uses wavelengths ranging from 650 to 850 nm, and not all wavelengths behave the same way when passing through clothing.
Can you wear underwear during a full-body red light therapy session?
Yes. You can wear underwear or a bikini during a full-body red light therapy session.
Should you do red light therapy before or after a shower?
Either is fine, but many people prefer after a shower. Clean, dry skin is ideal because it removes sweat, sunscreen, makeup, and other products that may create a barrier between the light and your skin.
Do you need to shave before red light therapy?
No. Body hair does not block red light therapy in the same way clothing does, so there is no need to shave before your session.
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