1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Physical Therapy

Iontophoresis

by Laura Inverarity, D.O.
for About.com

Updated October 08, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: A medical treatment used to deliver medication across the skin to deeper tissues by the use of electrical polarity.

Physical therapists occasionally use this mechanism to deliver steroid medication to sites of inflammation, or swelling.

Risks of this treatment include:
Adverse reaction to the medication
Burn lesion to the skin

Pronunciation: (ī′än·tə·fə′rē·səs)
Explore Physical Therapy
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Physical Therapy
  4. Glossary & Definitions
  5. Iontophoresis - What Is Iontophoresis>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.