SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF DYSHIDROTIC HAND ECZEMA USING TAP WATER IONTOPHORESIS WITH PULSED DIRECT-CURRENT

The efficacy of tap water iontophoresis in treating palmoplantar hyper hidrosis has been sufficiently documented and has led to its extensive use in clinical practice. In order to test the efficacy of this treat ment modality in cases of dyshidrotic hand eczema, 20 patients were tr eated with tap water iontophoresis in addition to two-sided steroid-fr ee topical therapy in a randomized half-side-study. A special score fo r dyshidrotic eczema including objective and subjective criteria was d eveloped to document the success of the therapy. Only those sides trea ted with tap water iontophoresis showed significant improvement. This significant effect of iontophoresis indicates the efficacy of this tre atment in cases of dyshidrotic hand eczema.