Iontophoresis Therapy

Energy: Mild Direct Current (DC) · Mechanism: Glandular Blockade

Plain-English name: Electrical Sweat Reduction

Iontophoresis

Also known asDirect Current (DC) DevicesPulsed Current (PC) DevicesCombination Devices

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

A gentle electrical current enhances the skin's absorption of active compounds, guiding them deeper for better results.

Downtime: Same day
Sessions: 10–15
Pain: Low
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 10–15 sessionsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results last: Only with regular sessions

A mild electric current through water to reduce sweating in hands or feet.

Check first: Pregnancy (due to insufficient data on fetal effects).

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

How do the types differ?

In no special order. Ask your provider which one fits you, and why.

3 types

Ask your provider

Which one do you use, and why that one for me?
What is the total price, and what does it include?
What side effects do you see most with it, and what do you do about them?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 20-40 mins
Total course: Ongoing for chronic conditions like hyperhidrosis.
Session interval: 3-5x/week (loading phase), then 1x/week

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

None

No sweat or heat

See Post-Care

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Avoid direct contact between metal objects (like jewelry or implants) and the electrical current in the treatment area.
- Ensure skin is free of lesions, open wounds, or impaired sensation in the treatment area.
After your visit
- Apply moisturizers or topical corticosteroids if redness, itching, or dryness occurs.
- No heavy sweating for the rest of the day
- Mild skin reactions typically resolve on their own or can be managed with moisturizers or topical corticosteroids. Sweating usually improves after 5 to 10 treatments.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Pregnancy (due to insufficient data on fetal effects)
Cardiac conditions, including cardiac arrhythmias
Cardiac pacemakers or implanted cardio-defibrillators (ICDs)
Large metal implants in the direct path of the electrical current
Epilepsy
Skin lesions, open wounds, or impaired sensation in the treatment area

Possible side effects

Common

Tingling, pins and needles, or a burning sensation during treatment
Redness (erythema)
Itching (pruritus)
Dryness of the treated skin

Less common

Small blisters (vesicles)
Pompholyx (a type of eczema)
Cracked skin/dermatitis
Burns (with improper use or defective equipment)
Secondary necrosis (tissue death, very rare with burns)

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

A controlled electrical current propels charged molecules into the skin, optimizing their therapeutic reach.

A little more technical

A mild electrical current gently propels charged molecules into the skin. It also aids the deeper movement of both charged and uncharged compounds through electro-osmosis, enhancing absorption.

Iontophoresis operates on the principle of 'like charges repel,' where an electric current drives charged drug molecules into the skin and underlying tissues. Electroosmosis, the convective movement of solvent, also contributes to the transport of both charged and uncharged molecules.

Energy type: Mild Direct Current (DC); Passes a safe, low-voltage electrical current through tap water directly into the skin's surface.
Mechanism category: Glandular Blockade; The minerals in the water combined with the electrical current create a temporary, microscopic plug in the sweat glands, halting severe hyperhidrosis.
Common device / product names: Direct Current (DC) Devices · Pulsed Current (PC) Devices · Combination Devices
Clinical descriptor: Iontophoresis

Common myths

Your next step

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A listing is not an endorsement. Check any provider yourself.

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