Tap water Iontophoresis

Tap water Iontophoresis Units:

Help and information in selecting right device

Tap water iontophoresis:

We believe that the answer lies not only in the device but just as important is the way in which the iontophoresesis treatment is administered. Not all hyperhidrosis sufferers are the same and treating strictly according to what is stated in a user manual means that not everyone experiences 100% sweat free success.

For a given ampage DC devices provide an increased treatment success over PC. One could easily conclude that DC is the better option. However where PC wins out over DC is that at a given ampage because of the differences in how the current flows, PC treatment is significantly easier for the user to tolerate. Therefore the user can tolerate much higher ampage settings with PC than with DC. The higher the level of current the greater the level of success that can be achieved with less sessions per week.

Treatment success depends on the maximum adjustable current.

Limits stated in the manual should not be exceeded (max. mA for the feet, max. 15 mA for the hands and max. 5 mA for the armpits). These max. values are usually not achieveable with DC iontophoresis devices but are commonly achieveable with a PC device. For the armpits if you have a PC device you can set the iontophoressis device to 5 mA and this will likely be enough for success as the skin at the armpits is very thin and a high current is not required to achive sweat reduction. With DC devices users treating armpits can often tolerate only 1mA, and therefore don’t experience success. For hands and feet PC is much more pleasant and skin irritations occur less frequently.

We recommend that customers should always select a PC (pulsed current) device.

The following table compares four iontophoresis devices for ease of treatment in different body areas

Feature table

Tap water iontophoresis:

Iontophoresis:  Direct Current (DC) Models

For a given ampage DC models devices provide an increased treatment success over PC so one could easily conclude that DC is the better option. However where PC wins out over DC is, that at a given ampage because of the differences in how the current flows, PC treatment is significantly easier for the user to tolerate. Therefore the user can tolerate much higher ampage settings with PC than with DC. The higher the level of current the greater the level of success that can be achieved with less sessions per week.

higher current - faster success - fewer sessions - more effective therapy

However if you are certain that you want a DC iontophoresis machine and you want a simple running device with a maximum current output of 25 mA then we can recommend the Idromed 5 DC. If you want a more powerful DC device with up to 35 mA output and the ability to adjust treatments times then we can recommend the Hidrex DC400.

Trial Service:

If you are still unsure which machine is right for you it may help to know that if you buy the Idromed 5 PC and you find that the effect of the PC current is too weak to successfully treat your sweating we offer you the opportunity to exchange it for a DC device, reimbursing you the difference in the cost of the devices and postage.

PC devices have clear advantages over DC:

1 – significantly less skin irritation

2 – treatment at high currents is hardly comfortable and pain free

3 – higher currenets mean a shorter treatment time and / or longer breaks between treatments.

Although PC devices are at the outset more expensive remember that iontophoresis is a lifelong therapy and the cost on a per-treatment basis is minimal. The device you choose will become an important and well-liked friend so you need a reliable machine to provide you with the best service. The maintenance therapy is usually lifelong. While you may eventually have durations without treatments of up to four weeks before the sweat begins again (extended leave) you will need to continue using the machine on an on-going basis.

Pulsed and direct current Iontophoresis machines: Learn more about the treatment feeling and the difference between them in our Forum!

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Differences Between the Idromed and Hidrex Models

Iontophoresis: Pulsed Current (PC) Models

The Idromed 5 PC and the Hidrex PC 500 both offer Pulsed Current treatment. The Idromed machine has a maximum current output of 25 mA and the Hidrex up to 20 mA. For PC treatment of the feet or hands and feet simultaneously we recommend the Idromed 5 PC because of the higher maximum current output of 25 mA. The Hidrex PC 500 is a switchable device i.e. you may choose to treat using Direct Current (DC) up to 35 mA or using PC but only up to a limit of 20 mA.

The Idromed 5 PC has a four year guarantee and all other iontophoresis devices (Hidrex and Idromed direct current) have a two year guarantee.

If one of our devices fails in times of guarantee: For our customers in European countries this guarantee means that if the device fails in normal operation it will be collected from you, promptly repaired and returned to you at no extra cost. For our customers living outside of European countries we will cover the cost of shipping the faulty device back to us up to a value of 40 Euros. Shipping costs of up to 40 Euros will be reimbursed to you. The device will be promptly repaired and returned to you again at no extra cost.

For treatment of hands only or armpits the Hidrex iontophoresis devices are also viable options alongside the Idromed machines and Hidrex machines can offer the following advantages:

• The ability to switch between PC (20 mA) and DC (35 mA) with the Hidrex PC500 machine
• A wide range mains plug that is suitable for 110 and 240 Volt areas. (To use Idromed machines in 110 Volt areas it requires a stepup convertor)
• The ability to set treatment time parameters between 1 – 59 minutes (Idromed devices have a fixed 15 minute treatment time).
• Automatic storage of the treatment parameters from the latest treatment session in the devices’ memory so that next time the machine is switched on the previous sessions’s treatment paramaters are already programmed
• Automatic detection of over treatment to prevent dry and cracked skin
• Slightly less expensive than the Idromed machines

More detailed info under "my personal best iontophoresis unit"

IontoFactor and iontophoresis success

Iontophoresis: How to decide wich manufactorer or model to choose

Iontophoresis Forum Information