MODIFICATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF TAP WATE R IONTOPHORESIS

Tap water iontophoresis is the therapy of choice in hyperhidrosis palm oplantaris. Therapeutic regimens, however, vary greatly. The aim of th e present study was to develop an optimized therapeutic scheme. The ma in methodologic parameters subjected to systematic experimental study included the effects of current polarity, the duration of a single tre atment session, the addition of electrolytes to the tap water and the treatment interval during maintenance therapy. The following procedure is proposed. During the initial phase, treatments are carried out thr ee times weekly for 10 min each time. The anode is kept on one extremi ty until normhidrosis is reached on this extremity. Then, polarity is changed until sweating is reduced to normal on the other extremity (co nstant polarity). In the subsequent maintenance phase, patients are tr eated at intervals of 6-8 days for 10 min each time. Polarity is switc hed from treatment to treatment (alternating polarity). Plain tap wate r is used without additives.