Does Red Light Therapy Work Through Clothes?

Date

Updated Mar 13, 2025

Reading Time

8 Min

Article by

David Johnson

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red light therapy, also photobiomodulation, is a non-invasive treatment that uses light. These are low-level red and near-infrared light with specific wavelengths of light (630 to 700 nm).

So, how does it get absorbed in the skin?

Once the red light leaves the LED bulb, it moves through the air and reaches the skin. Upon contact, it penetrates about 5 mm deep, reaching the dermis. The dermis is where your blood vessels, nerve endings, and hair follicles are found. All these parts have specialized cells that facilitate all their operations.

The energy gets into these cells’ powerhouses, their mitochondria. The mitochondria get an energy boost from red light and produce more. It does this by converting food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

The energy boosts the mitochondria and fastens cellular activity in all the cells in the region. This, in turn, boosts:

● Collagen production.
● Inflammation and pain relief
● Wound healing.
● Hair growth.
● Better blood flow.

Does Red Light Therapy Work Through Clothes?

RLT will penetrate certain fabrics and still work. However, the effectiveness of red light therapy dwindles with thickness or reflectivity.

1. The Effect Of Different Fabrics On RLT Penetration

Let’s analyze if the following common fabrics allow red light to penetrate.

● Cotton：Most of our T-shirts are made of cotton. So, can you have one during an at-home RLT session?

That depends. For instance, if the cotton is light and loosely woven, it may allow some red light to pass through. But if it is thick and closely woven, the red light will not be able to penetrate deeper to reach the skin.

● Polyester：Clothing pieces like swimwear, workout wear, and some casual clothes come in polyester. Naturally, polyester tends to be reflecting, meaning it will reflect away the red light.

Some blends with lightly wooden cotton might allow some rays to pass through. Still, most of it will block the RL.

● Wool：Your sweaters and scarves usually come in wool. Because wool is typically thick and fibrous, it significantly blocks RLT. This also goes for loosely woven wool.

● Silk and Linen：Silk is typically thin and somewhat translucent, meaning more red light will pass through. Compared to the above, you’ll reap the benefits of red light therapy while wearing silk or linen.

● Nylon and Spandex：This set could be transparent but still have some light-blocking properties. The thicker each is, the less the light passes through.

2. Does Color Affect Light Penetration?

Yes, color does affect light penetration.

Dark clothes are better at absorbing light. This absorption reduces the amount of light passing. Lighter-colored fabrics reflect most of the light and could allow the passage of red light through. However, the material and weave still matter.

3. Impact of Weave Density and Thickness

Looking closely at any clothing, you’ll notice how the fabrics intertwine. Weave density is the number of threads/yard per unit area in a woven fabric. It's basically how loose or tight the fabric is woven. Thickness is the distance between surfaces. The shorter the distance, the thinner, and vice versa.

When it comes to how these allow red light through:

● Thin and loosely woven materials allow more light penetration.
● Thick and densely woven fabrics block most or all RL.
● Breathable pieces may allow partial red light energy penetration.

How to Use Red Light Therapy Without Undressing?

Here’s a comparison table summarizing how to use Red Light Therapy (RLT) without undressing:

Best Practices for Red Light Therapy

To reap all the benefits of RLT, follow these best practices:

● Maximize light absorption through direct skin exposure. If you must be clothed, go for thin, light-colored, loosely woven fabrics. Also, during the sessions, remove any lotions, sunscreen, oils, or makeup.

● Use distance to your advantage. Position yourself around 6-12 inches from the LED light. Stay a little further if the red light therapy device you are using is a high-power device.

● Set the right wavelength depending on the desired effect. Red light (600–700 nm) is ideal for skin health benefits like reducing fine lines. Near-infrared light (800–850 nm) for more profound muscle recovery and joint pain relief. Combine for maximum benefits.

● Be consistent with treatments and timings if you want long-term benefits. You can go in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings; whatever time suits you. Also, be consistent with other healthy habits like hydration and exercising.

● Create a private treatment space for your RLT sessions. This makes it easier to remove clothes.

Conclusion: How to Get the Best Results

RLT can work if you select fabric colors, thickness, and weave density that allow light penetration. Even though it is best to do it on bare skin, going lightly dressed works. Think linen, silk, mesh, and gauze materials. Denim, heavy cotton, fleece, and other materials aren’t ideal.

So there you have it. You have the types of fabrics to choose from and those not. You also have best practices to help maximize effects. Now, you have no excuse not to use red light therapy.

But remember, before using, ensure you get cleared by your qualified healthcare professional. These professionals will help you find the best settings and offer additional info on fabric selection. Good luck.

SOURCES:

1. Jalal Maghfour, David M Ozog, Jessica Mineroff, Jared Jagdeo, Indermeet Kohli, Henry W Lim. (2024 Nov). Photobiomodulation CME part I: Overview and mechanism of action.

2. Manuel Alejandro Herrera, Arthur Pereira Ribas, Paulo Eduardo da Costa,Mauricio S. Baptista. (24 September 2024). Red-light photons on skin cells and the mechanism of photobiomodulation.

Article by

David Johnson

David Johnson is a co-founder of RedliteX and a healthcare professional with extensive experience in red light therapy. He specializes in the research and application of red light therapy panels for therapeutic and wellness purposes, with a deep understanding of the science behind light-based treatments. Committed to education and evidence-based insights, he focuses on how red light therapy can support healing, pain management, recovery, and overall well-being.

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