If you use both red light therapy and tanning — whether that is sunbathing, a tanning bed, or self tanner — you will at some point need to decide which comes first. The order matters, and the answer is slightly different depending on which type of tanning you are doing and what you want from each treatment.

The short answer: for most people combining red light therapy with UV tanning (sun or tanning bed), doing red light therapy after tanning is the better-supported approach. It supports skin recovery, reduces post-tan inflammation, and avoids adding a pre-session stimulus that could increase UV sensitivity. If you are using self tanner rather than UV, the order is less critical, though the same general logic applies.

Here is the full picture, including the science behind why red light therapy works and how to use both treatments effectively together.

Key Takeaways

Red light therapy stimulates collagen production and reduces inflammation through a process called photobiomodulation.
For UV tanning (sun or tanning bed), doing red light therapy after is generally the safer and more effective order.
Doing red light therapy before UV exposure may increase skin sensitivity and slightly reduce tanning efficiency.
Red light therapy after tanning helps soothe skin, support collagen repair, and reduce inflammation from UV exposure.
Red light (630–660 nm wavelengths) does not produce UV radiation and does not cause tanning on its own.
If combining both in the same session, allow at least 30–60 minutes between treatments to let the skin settle.
Hydration before and after both treatments reduces the risk of overheating or dehydration.
Red light therapy does not fade a UV tan or interfere with self tanner colour development.

What Red Light Therapy Actually Does to Skin

Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of visible red and near-infrared light — typically in the 630–850 nm range — to penetrate the skin and stimulate biological responses at the cellular level. This process is known as photobiomodulation. The light is absorbed by mitochondria in skin cells, particularly by an enzyme called cytochrome C oxidase, triggering increased ATP (energy) production and a cascade of downstream effects including collagen stimulation, reduced inflammation, and improved blood circulation [Lin et al., Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2025].

Importantly, red light therapy does not emit UV radiation. It does not cause tanning, and it does not carry the same skin cancer risk as UV exposure. It works through an entirely different mechanism to UV light — stimulating cellular repair rather than triggering melanin production.

Red Light Therapy Before Tanning

Doing red light therapy before a UV tanning session has some theoretical benefits — increased blood circulation could, in principle, support better nutrient delivery to the skin before UV exposure. However, in practice there are two reasons this order is less ideal:

First, red light therapy can cause mild, temporary skin sensitivity in some people. If your skin is already reactive after a red light session, layering UV exposure immediately on top can feel uncomfortable and may increase the risk of irritation.

Second, there is some suggestion that pre-tanning red light may slightly interfere with UV absorption, though this is not definitively established. Until the evidence is clearer, the conservative approach is to tan first and follow up with red light therapy.

If you do choose to do red light therapy before tanning, keep the red light session short — under 10 minutes — and wait at least 30 to 60 minutes before your UV session to give the skin time to settle.

Red Light Therapy After Tanning

This is the better-supported order for most people, and here is why.

UV exposure — whether from the sun or a tanning bed — causes measurable inflammation in the skin, even when no visible burn occurs. This is part of how tanning works: the inflammatory response triggers melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which drives melanin production. Red light therapy’s anti-inflammatory effects can help resolve this post-tan inflammation, support the skin’s repair processes, and reduce redness — making your tan look more even and healthy-looking sooner.

Red light therapy after UV exposure also supports collagen repair. UV radiation breaks down existing collagen over time through the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases. Clinical research has shown that red light stimulates fibroblasts to produce new type I collagen through TGFβ signalling pathways, helping to counteract some of this cumulative UV damage [Lin et al., Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2025].

Finally, red light therapy does not fade your tan. It does not interact with the melanin in your skin in any way that would reduce your colour. In fact, by improving skin texture and reducing the post-UV inflammation that can cause peeling, it may help the tan look better and more even for longer.

Red Light Therapy and Self Tanning

If you are using self tanner rather than UV tanning, the considerations are somewhat different. Self tanner works by reacting DHA with amino acids in the skin’s outermost dead cell layer — a process that takes at least four to six hours to complete. Red light therapy does not interfere with this reaction directly, so the order is not critical in the same way.

The most practical approach: apply self tanner, allow it to develop fully (at least six hours, ideally overnight), then use red light therapy the following day. This avoids any possibility of heat from the red light device affecting how the product sits on the skin during development.

Practical Tips for Combining Both Treatments

Hydrate before and after both treatments: Both UV exposure and red light therapy can cause mild dehydration. Drink water before your session and after, and apply a moisturiser after red light therapy to support the skin barrier.
Allow a gap between treatments: If you are doing both on the same day, give the skin at least 30 to 60 minutes between a UV tanning session and your red light therapy.
Do not do red light therapy on sunburned skin: If you have burned from UV exposure, give the skin time to recover before applying any additional treatment including red light. Adding thermal energy to already-damaged skin is counterproductive.
Keep red light sessions to 10–20 minutes: This is the typical evidence-supported range for skin benefits. Longer is not necessarily more effective, and extended sessions can cause mild discomfort in some people.
Avoid hot showers after either treatment: Hot water dries the skin and accelerates cell shedding, which is counterproductive for both tan longevity and collagen maintenance.

Does Red Light Therapy Enhance Tanning Results?

Red light therapy does not directly increase melanin production or speed up the UV tanning process. What it can do is improve the overall quality of your skin — better hydration, more even texture, improved circulation — which creates a better canvas for a tan to develop on and look its best. Whether that translates to a “better tan” depends on your starting point and skin type, but the combination of UV tanning and red light therapy aftercare is a reasonable approach for anyone interested in skin quality alongside colour.

For guidance on building a sustainable tanning routine that does not sacrifice skin health, our full tanning beds guide and article on how to tan faster without burning are good starting points.

Final Thoughts

The sequence that works for most people combining red light therapy with UV tanning is: tan first, follow up with red light therapy afterward. The red light session supports recovery, helps manage post-UV inflammation, stimulates collagen repair, and does not interfere with your colour.

If you are specifically using red light therapy for skin quality and anti-ageing benefits alongside self tanning, the order matters less — just make sure the self tanner has fully developed before your next red light session. Either way, both treatments work better when the skin is well-hydrated and you are not rushing from one to the other without any recovery time between them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some tanning salons recommend red light before tanning?

The rationale is that increased blood circulation from red light may warm and prepare the skin. This is theoretically plausible but not robustly evidenced, and the risk of increased UV sensitivity post-red light makes after-tanning a safer default for most people.

Does red light therapy fade your tan?

No. Red light therapy does not interact with melanin or the DHA in self tanner in any way that would reduce your colour. It may actually help maintain a better-looking tan by reducing post-UV inflammation and supporting skin texture.

Should you avoid the sun after red light therapy?

There is no strong evidence that red light therapy makes the skin more vulnerable to UV in the same way that, for example, certain skincare acids do. However, applying UV exposure immediately after red light therapy when the skin may be mildly sensitised is not ideal. Allow at least 30–60 minutes between treatments.

What should you not do before red light therapy?

Avoid retinol and vitamin A-based products immediately before a red light session, as these can increase photosensitivity. Remove makeup and jewellery. Do not apply self tanner within the last few hours before a session, as the heat from the device may affect how the product sits on the skin.

Can red light therapy help with sunburn?

Red light therapy has documented anti-inflammatory effects and may support recovery from mild UV-induced skin irritation. However, if you have a genuine sunburn, give the skin time to begin healing before adding any additional treatment.

How often should you do red light therapy alongside tanning?

Most protocols for skin benefits recommend three to five red light sessions per week. How you align these with your tanning schedule is a matter of personal routine — just avoid doing both in immediate succession without a gap between them.

Research Sources

Red light therapy stimulates type I collagen production in dermal fibroblasts through TGFβ and AKT signalling pathways, improving skin structure and reducing collagen degradation associated with UV exposure and ageing [Lin et al., Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2025]. Photobiomodulation using red and near-infrared wavelengths activates mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase, leading to increased cellular ATP production and downstream anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair effects [Ferrer-Sola et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024].

Red Light Therapy Before or After Tanning? The Science