Treatment of Palmoplantar Hyperhidrosis with Iontophoresis

Kim, Young Doo; Jun, Jae Bok

Abstract

In the present study, tap water iontophoresis as a method of treatment of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis was evaluated. Eighteen patients, twelve males and six females, with singnificant palmoplantar hyperhidrosis were treated on every weekday for 2 weeks. The hand and foot of the same side were randomly selected for the treatment by tap water iontophoresis according to the the method described by Levit. The selected hand and foot were immersed in a pair of pans containing tap water and exposed to 30V and 3 to 14mA of direct current for 20 minutes. The results obtained were as follows . Among 18 patients treated, 14(77.8%) accomplishei3 sufficient control of hyperhidrosis after 6 12(average 9.1) treatments. Two patients showed a moderate response and one weak response. One patient showed no response. Several patients experienced untoward effects such as mild itching, erythema, tingling sensation, exfoliation, compensatory hyperhidrosis, but the discomfort was not so severe as to stop the treatment