If you’ve been wondering how many sessions of red light therapy until you see results, you’re not alone. Most people want to know what to expect before they dive in. Red light therapy works cumulatively. You don’t walk out of your first session looking transformed.
However, many people do feel a subtle “fresh,” slightly plumper glow right away. The most noticeable change happens over a few weeks as your skin responds to consistent light exposure, ramps up its natural collagen production, and starts functioning at its best again.
Key Takeaways
- Most people notice early changes within 1-3 sessions, like a subtle glow or smoother feel.
- Deeper texture and tone improvements often take up to 3 months with consistent sessions. When supportive products are added to your routine, many people notice visible changes sooner, sometimes in about 1 month.
- Begin with 3-7 sessions per week, then switch to 1-3 per week for maintenance.
- Each session lasts 10-20 minutes, depending on whether you’re doing full-body or face-only treatments.
What “Results” Usually Mean With Red Light Therapy
When we talk about “results” with red light therapy in a spa setting, we’re talking about more than what you see in the mirror. Yes, visible cosmetic improvements are a big part of the experience, but many people also notice how they feel after sessions, especially when using medical-grade, full-body red light beds like the ones at SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa.
Most people first notice a healthy glow. It’s that fresh, well-rested look your skin gets as circulation increases and your cells become more energized. At the same time, many clients describe feeling looser, lighter, or more relaxed after a session, with some noticing a gentle boost in energy or overall comfort. These sensations often show up early, while the visible skin benefits continue to build gradually and naturally with consistent visits.
You may also notice:
- Brighter Tone and Radiance: Your skin can start to look more even-toned and illuminated, almost like you’ve upgraded your skincare routine without changing anything else.
- Surface Plumping: As your skin supports its natural collagen production, it may look subtly fuller and more refreshed, especially in areas that tend to look tired.
- Smoother-Feeling Texture: This is one of the most common early perks. Skin often feels softer, more hydrated, and easier to apply makeup on.
- Overall Refinement: Pores can appear less noticeable, uneven areas may look calmer, and your skin often looks more balanced and “put together.”
- A General Sense of Comfort and Ease: While individual experiences vary, many clients also describe feeling more relaxed or comfortable after sessions, which can be a welcome bonus alongside the visible skin improvements.
How Many Sessions Does Most People Need to Notice a Difference
When using red light therapy, most people notice improvements in stages, and each stage builds on the last.
1-3 Sessions: Subtle Early Changes
Many clients notice a mild glow or a sl
ightly refreshed look within the first few visits. Skin may feel softer, makeup may apply more smoothly, and some people notice a calmer, more balanced appearance.
2-4 Weeks: Noticeable Cosmetic Changes
With consistent sessions, visible improvements often begin to show during this window. You may notice brighter-looking skin, improved clarity, a more even tone, and gentle surface plumping that makes skin look smoother and more hydrated. When supportive products are used alongside red light therapy, some people experience these changes more quickly.
1-3 Months: Deeper Texture and Tone Improvements
This is where cumulative benefits typically become more noticeable. With red light therapy alone, deeper texture and tone improvements may take up to 3 months of consistency. When the right supportive products are added to the routine, many clients notice these results closer to the 1-month mark.
Products We Recommend to Support Red Light Therapy
While red light therapy works on its own with consistency, pairing it with the right products can help your skin respond faster and more effectively. Here are our recommendations:
- TriLuxe Lotion by REDLIGHT+: A deeply hydrating face-and-body lotion formulated for red light, tanning, and spray tanning that helps replenish moisture, support skin plumping, and enhance overall glow during treatments.
- 1% Retinol Serum by REDLIGHT+: A true 1% retinol serum designed to support cell renewal and smoother-looking skin while remaining gentle.
- Vegan Collagen Serum by REDLIGHT+: A plant-based collagen-supporting serum that boosts hydration, helps improve texture, and supports a more radiant complexion.
How Often to Do Red Light Therapy Each Week
Here is a general recommendation on how often to do red light therapy, depending on your starting point.
For Beginners: 3-7 Sessions per Week
At SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa, we typically recommend 4–7 sessions per week during the first month. This level of consistency gives your skin repeated exposure to red light, helping support natural collagen activity, improve surface glow, and build early momentum. If you’re planning to come in that often, here’s a straight breakdown of cost per session vs membership pricing.
To support this initial phase, many clients choose to pair their sessions with REDLIGHT+ products, such as TriLuxe Lotion, Vegan Collagen Serum, or the 1% Retinol Serum. These products are formulated to work alongside red light exposure by keeping skin hydrated, nourished, and primed to respond more efficiently. When used consistently, they may help some people notice visible improvements sooner while maintaining healthy-looking skin throughout the process.
After the First Month: 1-3 Sessions per Week for Maintenance
Once you’ve built up that initial progress, you can shift into a lighter routine. 2-3 sessions per week are usually enough to maintain results. Some people even go with a once-a-week visit just to keep their glow going.
How Many Minutes Per Session
Red light therapy sessions are quick, comfortable, and easy to fit into your weekly routine.
For Full-Body Beds: 10-15 minutes
Full-body beds are designed for short, effective sessions. At SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa, sessions are capped at 15 minutes because the medical-grade red light beds deliver consistent, full-body exposure within that timeframe.
For Face-Only Treatments: 5-15 minutes
If you’re only targeting the face, you won’t need as long. Facial skin responds quickly to light exposure, so a shorter session can still be very effective.
Daily vs Weekly Use
Even if you come in several times a week, the session length stays the same. You don’t need to increase your minutes as you go. The benefit comes from repetition, not longer sessions.
Can You Do Red Light Therapy Every Day
Wondering if you can (or should) use red light therapy every single day? Yes, daily use is common, but you don’t need daily sessions to make progress.
Professional, full-body beds, like the medical-grade units at SunsUp, are powerful enough that spacing sessions throughout the week is perfectly fine. In fact, most people get great results with 4-6 sessions per week in the beginning.
What matters far more than daily use is routine building and the products you pair with your sessions. Using skincare that’s designed specifically for red light exposure can make a noticeable difference. Many generic products rely heavily on preservatives like parabens and alcohols, which can dry the skin or create barriers that are not ideal during light-based treatments.
SunsUp’s REDLIGHT+ products are formulated with red light therapy in mind. These products focus on skin-supportive ingredients without relying on heavy preservatives, helping keep skin hydrated, comfortable, and better prepared to respond to each session.
How Long Results Usually Last
How long results last depends on what you’re using red light therapy for. Improvements related to skin texture, such as the visible appearance of scars or stretch marks, often hold long-term after a consistent series of sessions.
Results tied to surface balance, like acne-prone or congestion-prone skin, usually benefit from ongoing maintenance since these concerns are influenced by daily skin activity.
If sessions stop completely, cosmetic results like glow and clarity tend to soften gradually over time.
A good rule of thumb:
- Keep doing 1-3 sessions per week to maintain your results
- Expect results to soften slowly if you pause treatments
What Affects How Fast You See Results
Everyone responds to red light therapy at a slightly different pace, and a few key factors can influence how quickly you notice changes.
- How Often You Come In: People who stick to a consistent weekly rhythm (especially in the beginning) tend to see results sooner.
- How Long Each Session Lasts: Most full-body beds work best in the 10-15 minute range.
- Your Skin Type and Goals: Some skin types show a glow or smoothness quickly, while deeper texture or tone improvements naturally take longer.
- Your Distance From the Light: Professional beds are designed to keep you at the ideal distance for even, effective exposure.
- The Type of Device You Use: Medical-grade, full-body beds offer stronger, more consistent coverage than small at-home devices. That usually means faster and more noticeable cosmetic results.
- Your Hydration and Skincare Routine: Clean, well-hydrated skin responds best to red light therapy. Using products designed specifically for red light exposure can further support results. SunsUp offers REDLIGHT+ products, including TriLuxe Lotion, Bamboo Exfoliant, Vegan Collagen Serum, and 1% Retinol Serum, which are formulated to prep and support the skin and improve response during and between sessions.
SunsUp’s Recommended Routine
If you are looking for red light therapy in the Portland or Vancouver metro area, you can experience medical-grade beds at SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa.
You can find us at these locations:
- Happy Valley
- Oak Grove
- Tigard
- Gresham
- Hazel Dell
- Wilsonville
- Canby
- Clackamas
Our medical-grade, full-body red light beds are designed for short, effective sessions with exposure from both sides of the body for complete coverage.
To enhance your experience, many clients pair their sessions with Red Light+ TriLuxe, a specialty lotion that helps support the skin’s natural rejuvenation process and can speed up visible improvements.
Cost of Red Light Therapy
At SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa, we make it easy to stay consistent with red light therapy by offering unlimited-use memberships, so you’re never counting sessions or worrying about per-visit costs. Instead of paying each time you come in, you can choose a monthly plan that fits your routine and wellness goals.
SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa offers Red Light Therapy memberships that include unlimited sessions, with select plans also providing Club Points and complimentary UV tanning access. This structure allows you to build a steady red light routine while enjoying added flexibility and value across other services.
Red Light Therapy
Price: $65
Club Points: 0
What’s Included:
- Unlimited red light therapy
Red Light Therapy – VIP
Price: $75
Club Points: 0
What’s Included:
- Unlimited red light therapy
- Free unlimited UV tanning in VIP beds
Red Light Therapy – Executive
Price: $115
Club Points: 40
What’s Included:
- Unlimited red light therapy
- 40 Club Points to use toward any other club services
- Free unlimited UV tanning in VIP or Super VIP beds
FAQ
How many red light therapy sessions should I do in my first week?
For the best jump-start, aim for 4-7 sessions in your first week. This early consistency helps your skin respond faster and builds the momentum you’ll use in the following weeks.
Do I need to take breaks between red light therapy sessions?
Short breaks naturally happen when you space sessions across the week, and that’s all you need. Your skin benefits from the cycle of exposure and rest, so coming every day or every other day is perfectly fine, no long breaks required.
Will I get faster results if I increase my session minutes?
Not necessarily. With medical-grade red light therapy, sessions are designed to be effective within the 10-15 minute range. Staying in longer doesn’t speed up collagen support or glow, because your skin can only absorb so much light at one time.
What can make a difference is how well your skin is prepared for each session. Using products designed specifically for red light therapy, like TriLuxe Lotion, Bamboo Exfoliant, Vegan Collagen Serum, and 1% Retinol Serum, helps keep the skin hydrated, balanced, and more responsive to light exposure.
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