When is iontophoresis used?

Iontophoresis is very versatile and can bring medication to its site of action very quickly. If the electrodes are glued directly to the skin, the medication is often applied to the skin as an ointment or via a cellulose paper. For example, painkillers (= analgesics) are applied in case of injuries.

The method is also used for rheumatic diseases or joint wear (=arthrosis). Here, the drugs should then penetrate directly into the joint. The best-known example of painkillers is certainly the active ingredient Diclofenac (=Voltaren®).

Furthermore, patients with tendon problems (= tendinopathies) benefit from this method. Skin scars can also be treated with the active ingredient tretinoin. Cellulite can also be treated with gels containing androstanolone.

In cosmetics, ointments and creams are applied to the face via iontophoresis. The electrodes resemble tweezers and the current is conducted via moistened cotton pads. The application with the bath is often used in cases of excessive sweating (=hyperhidrosis).

The affected body part is then placed in the water bath, e.g. hands or feet. In the case of heavy underarm perspiration, instead of baths, sponges soaked in water can also be placed in the armpit region and thus use the conduction through the water. Since no medication is used directly, the mode of action is still very unclear. In addition, patients with numerous, difficult to treat warts, scars, carpal tunnel syndrome or local muscle pain benefit from treatment with iontophoresis in a water bath.Iontophoresis is also used to determine the hereditary disease cystic fibrosis. In this disease the production of sweat is disturbed and is tested by administering the drug pilocarpine.

What does such a therapy look like?

The first step is to remove fat from the affected areas of the skin. This disturbs the power line enormously. Simple soap is sufficient for this.

In addition, metal parts such as rings and jewelry must be removed, since they are conductive and could lead to burns. One starts the treatment after applying the medication with light currents and increases these slowly up to an order of magnitude of 10-30mA controllable by a regulator on the device. The individual sensation of the patient is the guiding principle here.

The current is increased on the basis of the “feel-good factor”. Pain means a too high current intensity. A muscle response can be felt from about 10mA.

For comparison, a normal light bulb works with a current of 430mA. At the end of the treatment, the current intensity is slowly reduced again. The whole thing happens in a period of about 10 minutes to a quarter of an hour.

If affected people can be helped in this way, home devices are also available if a permanent treatment is necessary. On average, 3-5 sessions per week are recommended at the beginning. To maintain the success of the therapy 1 session per week is recommended later.

An American skin institute has described success rates of over 80% for tap water iontophoresis. The bath is not a full bath as in the domestic bathtub. Rather, the bath of the home appliance is filled with water only 3-4 cm and only the desired body parts are held in the water.