XERF aftercare: the dos and don'ts

What do published sources say about the days after XERF?

Cynosure Lutronic does not publish a written XERF aftercare sheet on its public pages. These are the closest dated statements we could find, checked October 29, 2026.

Only the first three rows are about XERF itself. The last two describe the same family of monopolar radiofrequency treatment.

What should I do after XERF?

• Wear sunscreen every day. The AAD advises broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher and water resistant, applied before you go out and again every 2 hours or right after swimming or sweating. For a body area, most adults need about 1 ounce to cover exposed skin.
• Keep the area out of strong sun when you can. The Changi leaflet lists sun avoidance after radiofrequency, "especially on sun-exposed body sites." On the Space Coast that means a hat and shade, not only lotion.
• Keep your routine steady. Participants in Cynosure's XERF trial agreed to keep their diet and exercise the same for the whole study. Big swings make your own before and after harder to read.
• Keep your follow-up photos. The XERF studies judged results at 30 and 90 days after the last session. Book photos at the same points, in the same light.
• Write down what you notice. A note on redness, swelling or tenderness, with the date, helps Kay set the next session.

What should I avoid after XERF?

• Don't book another procedure on the same area right away. In the maker's trial, people agreed to skip all other procedures on the treated area, including toxin and filler, until 90 days after their last session. Tell every provider your XERF dates.
• Don't restart a retinoid on the area without asking. The AAD notes retinoids can make skin more sensitive to sun. The XERF trial excluded anyone who had used a topical retinoid on the area in the prior 3 months. Kay asks clients to pause retinoids such as retinol and tretinoin, glycolic or salicylic acid, scrubs and alcohol-based products for at least 3 to 7 days.
• Don't arrive for session two sunburned. The Changi leaflet asks patients to report sunburn on the area before radiofrequency treatment.
• Don't wait out a change that worries you. See the next section.

What about the weeks between session one and two?

In the 39-person study, everyone had two sessions about 4 weeks apart. At Karisma, two sessions booked together are $3,000. The weeks between are a good time to track how your skin responds and to bring questions to the second visit.

If you get cold sores, raise it before session two as well as the first. The maker's trial excluded people with a history of herpes simplex unless they were willing to take a preventive antiviral, which needs a prescriber. [TO CONFIRM: how Kay handles a cold sore history, with the medical director, Kay]

What is on Kay's aftercare list?

The first 24 to 48 hours. Mild redness, warmth or slight swelling is normal and usually settles within a few hours to 3 days. No ice packs or cold compresses: Kay wants the warmth to stay in the tissue. Skip hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and vigorous exercise, since body heat can make redness and swelling last longer. Wash with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, pat dry without rubbing, and use a gentle, non-occlusive moisturizer.

Days 3 to 7. Leave out retinoids, chemical exfoliants such as glycolic or salicylic acid, scrubs and alcohol-based products for at least 3 to 7 days. Makeup can usually go back on after 24 hours, as long as your skin feels comfortable.

From then on. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, SPF 50 if you can, because treated skin is more sensitive to the sun. Results build over weeks and months, so judge your skin at the 30 and 90 day points, not the morning after.