Does Red Light Therapy Work Through Clothes? All Your Questions Answered!

Do Red Light Face Masks Work? Here’s How You Say Hello to Better Skin! Reading Does Red Light Therapy Work Through Clothes? All Your Questions Answered! 8 minutes

What Is Red Light Therapy, and Why Should You Try It?
Does Infrared Light Therapy Work Through Clothes?
What Clothing Can I Wear During Red Light Therapy?
How To Do Red Light Therapy at Home?
How to Pick a Red Light Therapy Device?
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Red light therapy is quickly rising in popularity in the medical world, and rightfully so. Who wants expensive treatments and long-term pain problems when a simple solution can offer you results much more quickly?

Whether you're dealing with persistent pain or frustrated by a stubborn skin condition, red light therapy could be the game-changer you need. More and more healthcare experts and patients are recognizing its potential, making it an increasingly popular choice for treatment.

Although red light therapy devices are becoming popular, treliable information can be hard to find. What is red light therapy? How do you do it at home? Can red light therapy go through clothes? In this article, we cover all your burning questions about this innovative treatment, especially the pressing question: Does red light work through clothes?

What Is Red Light Therapy, and Why Should You Try It?

Red light therapy works by passing red and near-infrared light at low wavelengths to penetrate the skin, thereby boosting cellular activity and promoting healing. The best part? You can do it from the comfort of your home—all you need is a high-quality red light therapy device, like those from BlockBlueLight.

For effective red light therapy, the light should include both red and infrared wavelengths. For red light, the ideal wavelengths are 630nm and 660nm. If you're using near-infrared therapy, you'll want wavelengths of 810nm, 830nm, or 850nm. These specific ranges have shown promising results, with many users reporting noticeable benefits.

Red light therapy offers a range of health perks—it can help relieve pain, speed up wound healing, and support recovery from sports injuries. It’s also great for skin health, helping to achieve a more youthful look. Some research even suggests it can aid in full-thickness skin graft healing. (1)

Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s dive into some of the most common questions people have about red light therapy!

Does Infrared Light Therapy Work Through Clothes?

Some people think that since clothes protect from UV light, it’s a good idea to wear them during a light therapy session. However, it’s quite the opposite because clothes may actually hinder the performance of red light therapy. Also, red light doesn’t contain UV light -it’s at the opposite end of the spectrum.

While red and infrared light therapy does penetrate clothes, it’s less efficient than when applied directly to the skin. This is because, depending on the type of fabric, the light scatters or absorbs to some degree, reducing the therapeutic effects of the therapy. Moreover, other factors, such as the fabric’s color, stretch, and moisture level, may also come into play. These elements will work together to determine how far the light penetrates.

Since some issues may require deep light penetration, it’s best to apply the light directly to your skin for optimal results. Surface-level penetration may not offer the desired results, particularly for deep-rooted problems.

To experience the red light therapy’s full potential, it’s best to use the device without clothes.

What Clothing Can I Wear During Red Light Therapy?

While we recommend using red light therapy directly onto your skin, we also understand that sometimes, you may need to remain clothed for your session. In this case, you can ensure maximum penetration by choosing the right fabric.

Pick light and breathable fabrics.

These are ideal for deeper penetration of red light. Linen and cotton are great examples. These clothes will not only make the therapy more efficient but also keep you comfortable throughout the session.

Choose lighter colors and shades, such as white or light grey.

These do not absorb light as much as darker colors. This will allow most of the light to pass through your clothes.

Avoid thick materials, dark colors, and shiny fabrics.

Dark and textured fabrics reflect light. You should also avoid tight-fitting clothing, which may limit the light that reaches your body.

In summary, if you’re opting for red light therapy while wearing clothes, it is better to choose loose-fitting, breathable, and light-coloured fabrics, which will help you receive the maximum benefits from the treatment.

How To Do Red Light Therapy at Home?

Performing red light therapy at home is fun and relaxing, especially with BlockBlueLight devices. Just need to follow these simple steps:

Clean your skin: Make sure your skin is free of any lotions, creams, makeup, or other skincare products. Just like clothes, these can also lower the absorption of red and infrared light. However, if you’re using the therapy to improve absorption for a particular product, you may leave it on.
Position your device: For the best results, the device should be 6-12 inches away from the area you’re looking to target.
Set your timer: Do not deliver the therapy for more than ten to twenty minutes at a time, as it may overheat your body. Setting a timer will prevent you from losing track of time and accidentally overdoing it.
Consider using safety goggles: If you’re treating an area near your face, consider using safety goggles. Generally, red light therapy has no adverse effects on your eyes, but it is better to be safe in all ways possible.
Try to relax: Turn on the device and enjoy the process. Red light therapy has soothing effects, so it will be easy for you to give in and relax. You could also put on music, audiobooks, or meditative audio.
Practice consistency: To achieve results, you need to be consistent with your treatment. Ideally, you should aim for 3-5 sessions of 10-20 minutes per week.

How to Pick a Red Light Therapy Device?

Because of how hyped-up red light masks are, there are now a ton of them on the market. But which of these should you go for? Here are things that you should look for in your LED therapy face masks:

Look at wavelength emission: Studies have shown that your red light mask should emit red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths for optimal results. While red light works best on surface-level issues, NIR light can penetrate deeper into the skin and tackle underlying root problems. Devices from BlockBlueLight ensure that you receive both wavelengths, which is why they’re ideal for red light therapy at home.
Check the power density: Measured in milliwatts per square centimetre (mW/cm²), power density measures how much light energy is delivered to the skin. Devices with higher power density have much better penetration.
Number of LED lights: A higher number of LEDs will distribute the light more evenly, leading to more effective treatment. This is why you should always pick a red light mask with many LEDs.
Certifications: Any red light face mask you use should comply with the highest safety certifications. All BlockBlueLight devices are FDA-compliant and satisfy standards such as AS/NZS 60335.2.27:2020, AS/NZS 60335.1:2020, and CE.
Free from flicker: Flickering lights can cause eye strain and discomfort and decrease the overall effectiveness of your red light mask. This is why BlockBlueLight red light devices are free from flicker and EMF.
Other safety features: All our devices include safety goggles and a timer so that you may protect your eyes and also avoid accidentally burning yourself.