Iontophoresis is a treatment in which direct current delivers a medicine through intact skin into the tissues under the electrode. A medicine with a specific charge is placed under the electrode of the same polarity, and the current moves its particles deeper. Anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic medicines prescribed by a doctor are used most often. In Rydułtowy the treatment costs 15 PLN.
Below we explain how iontophoresis works, which medicines are used in it and who prescribes them, what the treatment involves, who should not have it and when pain requires a doctor’s visit first.
In brief
- Iontophoresis combines direct current (galvanisation) with a medicine delivered through the skin.
- The medicine is chosen and prescribed by a doctor; the physiotherapist checks whether it is suitable for the treatment.
- The main contraindications are an allergy to the medicine, metal near the treatment area and damaged skin.
- The treatment costs 15 PLN; a physiotherapy consultation 180 PLN.
- The clinic is open Mon–Fri 7:00–20:00, private visits only (not covered by NFZ, the Polish public health fund).
Contents
How does iontophoresis work?
Iontophoresis uses the principle that like charges repel each other. A positively charged medicine is placed under the positive electrode, and a negatively charged one under the negative electrode. The direct current “pushes” the medicine particles through the skin towards the other electrode. The medicine acts mainly locally, at a depth of a few millimetres, and only a small amount passes into the blood.
Direct current on its own, i.e. galvanisation, improves blood flow in the skin and tissues under the electrodes, which is an additional effect of the treatment. Iontophoresis is most often used for pain and inflammation in superficial tissues: tendons, muscle attachments and the capsules of small joints. We compare other types of therapeutic currents in our article electrotherapy – types of currents.
Which medicines are used for iontophoresis?
Iontophoresis uses medicines in the form of a solution or gel that form ions in water. Most often these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. diclofenac or salicylates, anaesthetics, e.g. lidocaine, and corticosteroids, e.g. dexamethasone. Less often, calcium or magnesium preparations, among others, are used. The charge of the medicine determines which electrode it is placed under.
| Medicine (examples) | Electrode | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Diclofenac, salicylates | negative (cathode) | pain and inflammation of soft tissues |
| Lidocaine | positive (anode) | local anaesthesia, pain |
| Dexamethasone | negative (cathode) | inflammation of tendons and attachments |
| Calcium, magnesium | positive (anode) | less often, as prescribed by a doctor |
Polarity and uses are approximate. Not every gel or ointment from the pharmacy is suitable for iontophoresis – some preparations contain ingredients that hinder the flow of the medicine or irritate the skin under the electrode.
Who prescribes the medicine and where do you get it?
The medicine for iontophoresis is chosen and prescribed by a doctor, because they are responsible for drug treatment and know the patient’s conditions and other medicines. It is worth having the instruction in writing, with the name of the medicine. The physiotherapist does not choose the medicine on their own, but checks whether the preparation is suitable for the treatment and selects the electrode polarity, current intensity and treatment site.
. If in doubt, ask the reception when booking your visit, before you buy the medicine. Prescription-only medicines, e.g. dexamethasone, require a prescription from a doctor.
What does the treatment involve and what does it feel like?
The physiotherapist soaks a pad with the medicine or applies it under the active electrode, places the second electrode next to it or on the opposite side of the limb, and then slowly increases the intensity. The patient feels tingling and slight burning under the electrodes. Strong burning or stinging must be reported straight away, because direct current at too high an intensity can irritate or burn the skin.
The skin at the treatment site must be clean and intact – do not shave it just before the treatment or apply cream to it. After the treatment it may be red for a while; this is a typical reaction. A blister, a small wound or an itchy rash under the electrode means the treatments need to be paused and the physiotherapist told.
Who cannot have iontophoresis?
Iontophoresis is not performed if there is an allergy to the medicine used, hypersensitivity to direct current, metal near the treatment area, e.g. a joint replacement or a plate, a pacemaker, damaged or diseased skin, reduced sensation, over a cancerous lesion, or with fever or thrombosis. In people with an allergy to anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin-induced asthma, salicylates and diclofenac are not used.
Before the treatment, tell the physiotherapist about all your allergies, the medicines you take (especially anticoagulants), implants and pregnancy. You will find a full list of contraindications in our article contraindications to physical therapy modalities.
Physical therapy modalitiesiontophoresis, galvanisation, TENS, electrical stimulation and other physical treatments chosen after an examinationPLN 15 per treatmentPrices valid from 08.2026.
When should you see a doctor first?
Iontophoresis eases symptoms, but does not explain their cause. See a doctor first if the pain appeared after an injury or a fall, the joint is swollen, red and you have a fever, the pain wakes you at night and comes with weight loss, or the limb goes numb or weak. Breathlessness, facial swelling or hives after the treatment require calling for help on 112.
A doctor’s visit is also needed if you do not yet have an instruction for the medicine, or you take many medicines and do not know whether another one is safe. The doctor will also assess whether it would be better to give the medicine in a different way instead of by iontophoresis.
Good to know: for your first treatment, bring the doctor’s instruction with the name of the medicine and a list of the medicines you take regularly.
Summary
Iontophoresis delivers a medicine through the skin using direct current and acts mainly locally, on superficial tissues. The medicine is prescribed by a doctor, and the physiotherapist selects the electrode polarity and intensity and checks for contraindications, especially allergies and metal near the treatment area. In Rydułtowy the treatment costs 15 PLN.
Frequently asked questions
Does iontophoresis work better than an ointment?
There is no clear answer to this. Direct current increases the amount of medicine that passes through the skin compared with rubbing it in alone, but there are few studies comparing clinical effects and they are small. Iontophoresis with dexamethasone may reduce pain in the short term in plantar fasciitis. The treatment is an addition to exercise, not a stand-alone therapy.
How does iontophoresis differ from phonophoresis?
Both methods deliver a medicine through the skin, but in different ways. In iontophoresis this is done by direct current, so the medicine must form ions and have a specific charge. Phonophoresis uses ultrasound, and the medicine is part of the coupling gel. The contraindications are also different. We describe the details in our article on ultrasound and phonophoresis.
How many iontophoresis treatments are needed?
The physiotherapist decides on the number of treatments individually after the consultation, taking into account the problem, the doctor’s recommendations on the medicine and how the skin reacts to the first treatments. If the skin is irritated, a break is taken. If the pain does not ease despite a series of treatments, it is worth going back to the doctor and changing the approach rather than repeating the same treatment.
Do I need a referral for iontophoresis?
For private treatments at the “W zdrowym ciele” clinic no referral is needed, and the clinic has no contract with the NFZ (the Polish public health fund). For iontophoresis, however, a doctor’s instruction regarding the medicine is needed, and a prescription-only medicine requires a prescription. Before the first treatment the physiotherapist takes a medical history, asks about allergies and checks the skin at the treatment site.
Sources
- Mika T., Kasprzak W. (eds.), Fizykoterapia, Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL, edition.
- Straburzyńska-Lupa A., Straburzyński G., Fizjoterapia z elementami klinicznymi, Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL, edition.
- Gudeman S.D. et al., Treatment of plantar fasciitis by iontophoresis of 0.4% dexamethasone: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1997.
- Osborne H.R., Allison G.T., Treatment of plantar fasciitis by LowDye taping and iontophoresis: short term results of a double blinded, randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial of dexamethasone and acetic acid, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2006.
About the author: Tatiana Grabowska, MSc – master’s degree in physiotherapy, licence to practise number PWZFz 11646 (Polish licence to practise as a physiotherapist). Since 2013 she has run the “W zdrowym ciele” physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic in Rydułtowy; she has about 12 years of professional experience.
- Consultation180 PLN
- Referralnot needed
- ReceptionMon–Fri: 7.00–20.00
