Pulsed DC iontophoresis as a new treatment option for hyperhidrosis
Tap water iontophoresis with direct current has become the treatment of choice for excessive sweating of the hands or feet due to its high success rate (98%).
Because of such side effects as discomfort and issues such as shocks that sometimes occur with direct current iontophoresis, the aim of the present study was to minimize the side effects of tap water iontophoresis, increase safety standards, and reduce the technical effort without losing therapeutic efficacy.
In the investigation, the effectiveness and side effects of a DC device made by HIDREX GmbH, a device with pulsed direct current with triangular voltage curve (experimental device, manufacturer unnamed), and a pulse current device made by HIDREX GmbH with rectangular voltage curve were compared.
Overview of the study’s results:
currently not availableNormal sweating was achieved with DC treatment after an average of 10 treatments, with both pulse current forms achieving the same results after about 12 treatments. Adverse events such as pain, skin irritation, or mild electric shock due to improper use occasionally occurred during treatment with DC. The subjects reported few side effects when treated with pulse currents. Skin irritations occurred only rarely when subjects were treated with triangular pulse current and the occurrence was further minimized when treated with the rectangular pulse current of the HIDREX GmbH device. Neither pulse current devices caused electric shocks. Both DC and pulse current treatment with HIDREX devices was 100% effective in normalising the sweat levels of all subjects. The device using triangular pulse current was successful with only 80% of the subjects.
Conclusion: Due to the reduced occurrence of side effects, tap water iontophoresis with pulse current, despite its somewhat lower efficiency, is a viable alternative to DC iontophoresis. It should be considered the method of choice for treating children. In extreme cases of hyperhidrosis, the use of pulse current may not be sufficient. In these cases, treatment with DC is also recommended.
(cf. Reinauer, S., Neußer, A. et al.: Die gepulste Gleichstrom-Iontophorese als neue Behandlungsmöglichkeit der Hyperhidrosis. in: Hautarzt (1995) 46, p. 543 – 547)
