Can you wear clothes during a red light therapy session?

Wondering if you can wear clothes during your red light therapy session? This therapy boosts skin health, eases pain, and improves mood. But will wearing clothes during your session stop you from experiencing these benefits? Many people have the same concern. Don’t worry—by the end of this article, you’ll have a clear answer!

For optimal results during red light therapy sessions, it’s recommended to expose the areas you want to treat directly to the light. Brands like Joovv, which uses medical-grade LEDs to deliver red and near-infrared light, boosting cellular energy and health , and PLATINUMLED suggest that clothing can block the light and reduce its effectiveness. If you’re targeting your whole body, it’s best to be fully undressed, allowing the light to reach your skin and maximize the benefits of the treatment.

To get the most out of your  red light therapy  sessions, full skin exposure is ideal. But if you’d rather keep some clothes on, it’s important to choose the right ones so the light can reach your skin effectively. Near-infrared (850nm) light penetrates clothing better than red light (660nm), though both are significantly weakened by fabric barriers. Here are some tips for what to wear:

1. Go for Light Colors: When selecting your outfit, opt for light-colored clothing—think whites, beiges, or soft pastels. Dark colors, like black or navy, tend to absorb more light, creating a barrier that blocks the red light from reaching your skin. Lightweight cotton can block 50–80% of therapeutic light, dramatically reducing treatment effectiveness. 
2. Choose Breathable Fabrics: Light and breathable materials such as cotton or linen are your best friends during therapy. They allow the red light to pass through easily, maximizing the benefits of your session while keeping you comfortable.
3. Avoid clothes with metal or shiny surfaces: These materials can disrupt red light penetration and reduce the effectiveness of your therapy session.

To wrap things up, you can wear clothes during your red light therapy session, but for the best results, it’s ideal to let your skin breathe. If you prefer to keep some clothes on, go for light-colored and breathable fabrics, which allow air and moisture to flow through their fibers, helping regulate body temperature and comfort , to allow the light to work its magic. Steer clear of dark colors and any clothing with metal or shiny parts, as they can block the light and lessen its benefits.

You should not wear jewelry during red light therapy. While the metal won’t heat up, it can block the therapeutic light from reaching your skin. Any area covered by jewelry won’t benefit from the treatment. To maximize the effects of red light therapy, remove all jewelry before your session.

During a red light therapy session, it’s best to have a clean, bare face. This way, the red light wavelengths can penetrate your skin effectively. If you’re wearing makeup, it can create a barrier that keeps the light from reaching the deeper layers of your skin. To get the most out of your therapy session, be sure to remove all your makeup beforehand.