{"id":60444,"date":"2024-07-23T10:58:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T08:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itechmedicaldivision.com\/ionoforesi-cose-come-funziona-e-quali-sono-i-benefici\/"},"modified":"2024-07-29T12:12:24","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T10:12:24","slug":"iontophoresis-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-what-the-benefits-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itechmedicaldivision.com\/en\/iontophoresis-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-what-the-benefits-are\/","title":{"rendered":"Iontophoresis: what it is, how it works, and what the benefits are"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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  1. How is iontophoresis performed and how long does a session last?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  2. Why use Iontophoresis and what diseases is it indicated for?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  3. What are the effects and benefits of iontophoresis?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
  4. Contraindications of Iontophoresis <\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    1. On what parts of the body can it be performed?<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>
    2. Iontophoresis for Peyronie’s disease<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>
    3. Conclusions<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Iontophoresis,<\/strong> a term derived from the Greek for “ion transport,” is an established therapeutic technique <\/strong>that uses direct current <\/strong>to “travel” drugs through our skin. Like an electric ambulance, the current creates a field that guides charged drugs, based on their polarity<\/strong>, to the desired target.<\/p>

      What can be the applications for iontophoresis?<\/p>

      Keep following and find out!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      How is iontophoresis performed and how long does a session last?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Before we talk about the specifics of the therapy, let’s go over the various types of iontophoresis <\/strong>and what mechanisms make this particular form of electrotherapy <\/strong>effective!<\/p>

      Types of Iontophoresis<\/strong><\/p>

      There are two main types of iontophoresis:<\/p>

      • Continuous Iontophoresis: <\/strong>Uses a low-intensity direct current.<\/li>
      • Pulsed Iontophoresis: <\/strong>Uses direct current pulses with high-intensity cut-off periods for longer application times.<\/li><\/ul>

        These two modes give approximately the same effects, it all depends on the person’s tolerance for the electrical stimuli<\/p>

        \u00a0<\/p>

        \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

        The mechanisms of drug delivery<\/strong><\/p>

        Just on the subject of efficacy, let’s look at what factors promote better results of iontophoresis:<\/p>

        • Drug\u2019s molecular size and charge: <\/strong>drugs with smaller molecular size and higher charge penetrate more easily through the skin.<\/li>
        • Drug concentration: <\/strong>A higher concentration of the drug in the ionized solution promotes its transport.<\/li>
        • Treatment duration: <\/strong>Longer treatment allows for greater penetration of the drug.<\/li>
        • Skin characteristics: <\/strong>Thinner, more hydrated skin allows easier passage of medications.<\/li>
        • General body hydration:<\/strong> good general hydration promotes treatment success.<\/li><\/ul>

          \u00a0<\/p>

          But how does it work?<\/strong><\/p>

          Before treatment you will have to sprinkle the area of the affected with an ionized substance <\/strong>containing the drug; in some cases the drug will be distributed on one of the two electrodes (the one corresponding to the polarity of the drug).<\/p>

          Next, two electrodes, one positive and one negative, are placed on the skin and connected to a DC <\/strong>generator. The low-intensity current creates an electric field that “pushes” the charged drugs through the skin, reaching deep tissues where they can carry out their action. This is the “secret” that makes iontophoresis so effective!<\/strong><\/p>

          \u00a0<\/p>

          For an effective iontophoresis session, the minimum recommended duration<\/strong> is 20 minutes, <\/strong>but, as we shall see, prolonged treatment allows for greater penetration of the drug into the skin with better results!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Why use Iontophoresis and what diseases is it indicated for?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Imagine that you have a nagging joint pain. With iontophoresis, the doctor can administer a pain-relieving drug directly to the affected area, without the need for needles<\/strong>.<\/p>

          The direct current <\/strong>creates a gap in the skin barrier, allowing the drug to penetrate deeply and reach the site of pain, where it can deliver its beneficial action in a targeted manner and with minimal side effects. <\/strong>Iontophoresis can also be used in self-treatment by the patient, after proper training, of course.<\/p>

          \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

          But what kinds of conditions can be treated by iontophoresis?<\/p>

          • Musculoskeletal inflammation and pain.<\/li>
          • Muscle and bone injuries.<\/li>
          • Degenerative or inflammatory joint diseases.<\/li>
          • \u00a0<\/li>
          • Peyrone’s disease.<\/li><\/ul>

            \u00a0<\/p>

            In addition to fighting pain, iontophoresis proves to be a valuable ally in the management of <\/strong>hyperhidrosis<\/strong>.<\/p>

            Hyperhidrosis <\/strong>is excessive sweating that affects patients’ quality of life, causing social and occupational discomfort and emotional distress<\/strong>.<\/p>

            Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive, bilateral, symmetrical sweating localized to the armpits, palms, soles of the feet, or craniofacial region and not caused by any other underlying condition. Secondary hyperhidrosis <\/strong>can be focal or generalized and is caused by an underlying medical condition or the use of medication. In this case, the medication used is often an anticholinergic, which acts on the sweat glands <\/strong>by reducing sweat production.<\/p>

            The application of this technique on the hands, feet, or armpits provides effective control over sweating, <\/strong>improving the quality of life of sufferers.
            On hands and feet it is usually applied with the help of a basin filled with a few millimeters of natural water (tap water), where the two electrodes (positive and negative) on which hands or feet are placed are immersed. Alternatively, special sponges soaked in water can be used<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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            What are the effects and benefits of iontophoresis? <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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            Having better understood what Iontophoresis is, let’s go into more detail to see what the beneficial effects of this treatment are:<\/p>

            \u00a0<\/p>

            Advantages of iontophoresis<\/strong><\/p>

            Iontophoresis offers numerous advantages over other routes of drug delivery, including:<\/p>