The comparison of efficacy and long-lasting effect of tap water iontophoresis in continuous direct and pulsed direct currents on primary hyperhidrosis of hand

Primary Hyperhidrosis (PHH) is a functional disorder of idiopathic etiology caused by overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system stimulating the sweat glands. In the recent years, many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the palmar hyperhidrosis; one of these methods is the use of pulsed direct current which has been of interest to researchers due to its effect on prevention and reduction of the risk of burns and electrical shock, polarity, and discomfort. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and long-lasting effect of tap water iontophoresis in continous direct and pulsed direct currents on primary hyperhidrosis of hand.
A total of 20 participants, aged 18-45, volunteerd and were diagnosed with the primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Participants were randomly assigned into two intervention groups treated by either ontophoresis of the tap water with DC or with pulsed DC. Gravimetric method was also applied to measure the sweating rate at the baseline, 4 days, 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after the treatment. Participants’ quality of life was also assessed using the DLQI at baseline and all follow-up time points.
Sweating rate significantly reduced during the eight treatment sessions in both intervention groups.The quality of life, too, improved in both intervention groups (P The findings of the present study suggest that both continuous and pulsed direct current is effective in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, but Iontophoresis with pulsed direct current has less side effects.