What to Do After Red Light Therapy: Skincare, Showers and Sunscreen

What to do after red light therapy is short: put your usual skincare on, add sunscreen if you are heading outdoors, and carry on with your day, because a plain LED session has no recovery time. No official source sets a waiting time before you shower, use retinol or exercise. Below: skincare order, showers, sunscreen, make-up, workouts, normal redness, cleaning the mask and tracking results.

Key takeaways

• Cleveland Clinic states: "There isn't a recovery time for LED light therapy." Cleveland Clinic, 2021
• Red light therapy uses no ultraviolet light, unlike sunlight and tanning booths. Cleveland Clinic, 2021
• A systematic review of 31 randomised trials of LEDs in dermatology found adverse events were infrequent. Jagdeo, 2018
• The AAD advises applying SPF 30 or higher to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors. AAD, 2025
• For dry skin, the AAD suggests keeping showers to five to ten minutes in warm water. AAD, 2026

What to do after red light therapy on your face: what order should skincare go in?

Light goes first, on clean, dry, bare skin, and everything else goes on afterwards: serum, moisturiser, then sunscreen and make-up in the morning. In the evening, a retinoid on the nights you use one, then moisturiser.

Cleveland Clinic asks for "a clean, makeup-free face" before LED treatment. Cleveland Clinic, 2021 Products left on the skin sit between the light and your face. Our guide to red light therapy before or after skincare covers each ingredient in detail.

Step	Morning session	Evening session
Before the light	Rinse or cleanse, pat dry	Cleanse off make-up and sunscreen, pat dry
Light	Mask session on bare skin, eyes closed	Mask session on bare skin, eyes closed
Straight after	Serum, if you use one	Retinoid on the nights you use one
Then	Moisturiser	Moisturiser or night cream
Last	Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, then make-up	Nothing else needed

The AAD calls sunscreen and moisturiser "the two most-effective anti-aging products you can buy", so those two matter more than any extra serum. The mask and serum trial in our skincare guide used hyaluronic acid, which is why hydrating products are a sensible first choice. Add one new product at a time, as the AAD advises. AAD

Can you shower after red light therapy?

Yes, you can shower straight after: no official source sets a waiting time, and the light leaves nothing on the skin to wash off. Showering before a session also works, as long as your skin is fully dry before the device goes on.

Waits of 20 to 30 minutes appear on some clinic blogs, without a source. The advice that does exist is ordinary skin care from dermatologists:

• Keep it short: the AAD suggests "five to ten minutes, using warm water" for dry skin. AAD, 2026
• Pat, do not rub: pat skin dry with a soft towel, and use gentle, fragrance-free products.
• Moisturise on damp skin: the AAD advises moisturiser while skin is still damp after a shower or bath.

You do not need to wash your face after a session either. Wash before it instead, and keep to the AAD's limit of twice a day and after sweating. AAD

The one rule is about the devices, not your skin. Keep both away from water, never use either on wet skin, and after a hot shower, bath or sauna let your skin cool and dry before a light session.

Can you use retinol or tretinoin after red light therapy, and how soon?

Yes: apply it after the session, in the evening, since the AAD advises retinoids at night. No published source sets a waiting time between a red light session and a retinoid.

Online waits range from 30 minutes to a week, none with a source. The light problems documented for retinoids involve UV and violet-blue light, which is why retinoids go on after the session rather than under it. Acids (AHAs and BHAs) also go on afterwards, or on alternate nights at first, and they make daily sunscreen essential.

If you are new to both, start one first so you know which one your skin is reacting to.

Prescription retinoids are different. Cleveland Clinic lists isotretinoin among medicines that rule out LED treatment. Cleveland Clinic, 2021 Our precautions rule out use with photosensitising medication, so anyone taking a medicine should check with their pharmacist or doctor before using the device.

Do you need sunscreen after red light therapy if you are going outside?

Yes: sunscreen goes on after every morning session if you are heading outdoors, last before make-up. Red and near-infrared light give no UV protection, so the light does not replace it.

The AAD's sunscreen advice:

• Strength: SPF 30 or higher, which blocks about 97% of UVB, broad spectrum and water resistant. AAD, 2025
• Timing: on dry skin, 15 minutes before going outdoors.
• Reapplying: about every two hours outdoors, or after swimming or sweating.
• Amount: most adults need about 1 ounce to cover exposed skin.
• Common mistake: most people apply only 25 to 50% of the recommended amount. AAD, 2025

If you are prone to dark marks, a tinted sunscreen helps: the AAD notes that iron oxide in tinted formulas helps protect skin from visible light. For body sessions with the panel, put sunscreen on any treated area that will see daylight.

Where do the "avoid the sun for 24 to 48 hours" rules come from?

Mostly from photodynamic therapy and clinic procedures, where a light-sensitising drug is put on the skin before the light. With plain red light there is no drug and no UV, so daily sunscreen is the sensible rule.

In photodynamic therapy, DermNet notes that "the photosensitivity usually lasts about 24 hours" after the cream. DermNet, 2023 The drug, not the light alone, causes that reaction.

Cleveland Clinic's LED page advises extra sunscreen when you go out after treatment, and otherwise a normal routine. Cleveland Clinic, 2021 A morning session followed by SPF 30 or higher before you go out fits that advice.

Avoiding sunburn also keeps your routine going: the panel manual says not to use it after sunburn on the body in the past 2 weeks.

Can you wear make-up after red light therapy?

Yes, once the session is over: make-up goes on last, over moisturiser and sunscreen. The only rule is no make-up under the mask, because pigment takes some of the light.

Our article on using a red light mask with make-up or sunscreen sets out the full morning and evening order. For breakout-prone skin, the AAD suggests products labelled "oil-free", "won't clog pores" or "non-comedogenic". AAD

Remove all make-up, including eye make-up, before bed and before an evening session.

Can you work out or sweat after red light therapy?

Yes: exercising straight after a session is what most of the exercise trials did. There is no source for "no exercise for 24 hours".

As our article on red light therapy before or after a workout notes, 12 of 13 trials in a 2015 review applied light before exercise. Aim the panel at the muscles you are about to train.

Sweat matters for skin, not for the light. The AAD says to remove make-up before a workout, with "No need to wash your face", and to consider showering straight after. AAD If you train first and use the light later, shower and dry off before the session.

Some aftercare lists also tell you to drink extra water to "flush toxins"; no source links red light sessions with toxins, and Cleveland Clinic notes that the liver, kidneys, gut and skin break down toxins daily. Cleveland Clinic, 2024

How long should redness or warmth last after a red light mask session?

A pink flush that fades within the hour, usually much sooner, is normal. Nothing should last into the next day.

Our guide to red light mask side effects lists what is normal: gentle warmth during and shortly after, the pink flush, and skin a little dry or tight that evening, which a plain moisturiser fixes. That glow straight after a session is temporary blood flow, not the result.

Official guidance says the same: the AAD notes some people develop "temporary mild pain or irritated skin". AAD, 2024

Trial (summarised in Ablon, 2018)	Light	Minutes	Sessions per week	Weeks	Reactions reported
Rejuvenation, 23 people	633 nm	20	3	3	No adverse events
Wrinkles around the eyes, 31 people	633 + 830 nm	20	9 sessions in total	About 4	Mild redness in 8 of 31
Acne, 30 people	409 to 419 nm	10 to 20	2	4	Mild, short-lived redness, dryness and itch
Acne, 45 people	415 nm	20	2	4 to 8	No adverse events

The figures come from a review of LED trials in dermatology. Ablon, 2018

A brief afterimage for a minute or two is normal; eye pain, watering or a change in vision means stop and seek advice.

What should you do if your skin stings or stays red after red light therapy?

Stop your active products first, skip sessions and give your skin a few days to settle. Then restart lower and shorter, and stop for good if the reaction returns.

1. Pause: skip the next session on sunburnt, irritated or broken skin.
2. Find the cause: a session that ran too long, brightness raised too soon, an active product left on under the mask, or skin that was already sunburnt or broken.
3. Strip back: keep a gentle cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen; the AAD says to stop any product that "stings, burns, or tingles". AAD
4. Restart low: with the mask, 50% brightness and the 10-minute timer, with no actives that day.
5. Test new products: the AAD suggests a small amount on the inner forearm twice a day for 4 to 5 days.
6. Stop if it recurs: see a doctor if your skin does not settle.

Cleveland Clinic advises contacting a provider for hives, inflammation, pain, or rash and redness. Cleveland Clinic, 2021

The AAD adds that in darker skin, visible light can cause more intense, longer-lasting dark marks, so speak to a dermatologist first. Tinted sunscreen helps here, and the panel is not for Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI.

How do you clean and store a red light mask after each session?

Wipe the inside with a damp microfibre cloth after every session, with no abrasive or strong cleaning agents. Then keep it in its storage bag until the next session.

• Product inside: if you wore the mask over skincare by mistake, clean it before the next session.
• Storage: the storage bag comes in the box, along with the handheld controller and a USB Type-C cable.
• Charging: a full charge takes about 3.5 hours and gives around 40 minutes of use. The mask cannot be used while charging, so charge between sessions.

For the panel, clean and store it as its manual describes.

How should you track results after each red light session?

Take photos at week 0, week 4 and week 8 under the same conditions, and keep a short log after every session. Face results are judged at 8 to 12 weeks, so a record beats memory.

Our article on how long red light therapy takes to work sets out the photo plan: same room, same time of day, same lighting, no make-up, phone at arm's length. Trials go further. One mask trial protocol used a fixed camera, front and 45 degree views from each side, white lighting, a plain background, 50 cm distance and no make-up. Bragato, 2023

A simple log after each session:

• Settings: device, area, mode by colour or panel channels, brightness, minutes and distance.
• Skin reaction: none, a flush that faded within the hour, or one that lasted longer.
• Products afterwards: so a reaction can be traced to its cause.

What should you do after a Kivorla mask or panel session?

After the mask, keep your eyes closed until it switches off, then do your skincare and wipe the shell. After the panel, keep the goggles on and your eyes closed until it stops, then use body lotion and sunscreen on any area that will see daylight.

Never look into the light of either device.

The 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is a cordless, full-face silicone shell with an eye opening and no diodes over the eyes. It runs a red mode (665 nm red with 850 nm and 1064 nm near-infrared) and a blue mode (460 nm blue with 850 nm near-infrared), by voice or the handheld controller.

• Settings: brightness 50, 70 or 90% and a 5, 10 or 15 minute timer; 50% and 10 minutes is a good start.
• Weekly limits: 10-minute sessions up to 4 times a week at high brightness, or 15-minute sessions up to 3 times a week, never more than 20 minutes a day. Count red and blue sessions together.

The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel carries 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. It hangs on a door or wall with the included door hook and pulley, or stands upright on the floor; goggles and a controller are included.

• Session: 10 to 15 minutes per area, about 6 inches for a joint and 12 inches for a broad area.
• Gap: at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions. If no time is set, it stops at 5 minutes.
• Keeping it gentle: turn the channels down, use a shorter timer (it starts at 1 minute) or step back from 6 to 12 inches.
• Warmth: the surface stays at or below 40°C, and mild warmth is normal; if a session feels too hot, move further away or stop.

Read the precautions before ordering: neither device is for use during pregnancy, with epilepsy, a thyroid condition or thyroid medication, photosensitising medication, or on broken skin. Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.

Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices. Speak to a doctor or dermatologist about redness, a rash or dark marks that do not settle after a session, and keep any treatment your dermatologist has prescribed.