Clearance Lights Leaking -Thank you For the Tip.

I have always removed them, put plumber's putty on the back and replaced, tighten down and clear off the excess, same as setting a sink strainer.

Never had a leak afterward.

If the kitchen sink in a home can go decades without the putty failing it stands to reason works as well on a clearance light. The kitchen gets multiple daily cycles of hot soapy water through it and holds up quite well.