Iontophoresis Machines – A Comprehensive Review of What’s Available

If you’ve heard of the Iontophoresis treatment you’re likely interested in what kind of machines you can buy to use at home. If you’ve already done a little research you’ll know just how expensive these things can be. There’s also some rather different specifications and options to choose from which can make it a difficult choice when looking for one to buy.

In this article I’ll hope to inform you in what is currently available, at what price, where you can buy them from, and what differentiates each machine from the next.

Some Things to Remember

• Some devices can work out to be quite expensive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that that is the price you pay. Often the manufacturers of Iontophoresis machines aim their products primarily at health professionals and to those who would use their products at home as secondary buyers. Because of this the price is often a lot higher than you would imagine. However, as Hyperhidrosis is considered as an actual skin condition and Iontophoresis as a treatment for that condition, many medical insurers and national health services will offer financial support and in some cases pay the fee in full.

• Please Note: If you want to purchase any of the machines listed, check with your medical insurer or national health service if they will actually help you with the purchase of  an Iontophoresis machine for use at home.

• You can of course get cheaper devices such as the Drionic, but they tend to be less effective than some of the higher priced models. So in this case you definitely do get what you pay for, with the best value for money coming from many of the European models. They are relatively affordable and don’t sacrifice anything in quality.

• Prescriptions are also required for some machines, the products from RC Fischer do require a prescription for purchase. In other words, your doctor has to diagnose you with Hyperhidrosis, and also prescribe you with a treatment of Iontophoresis.

• In the table below you will notice that each device has either a direct current or both a pulsed current and direct current. A direct current is one constant current of electricity, whereas a pulsed current setting outputs a pulsating current. The difference being that pulsed settings lower the sensation on the skin, resulting in a much more comfortable treatment. Pulsating is ideal for those who have sensitive skin (such as children) and for use on the underarms.

• Tap water quality can vary hugely across different neighbourhoods, so check with your local water supplier to see if there are enough minerals in the water to create a good charge in your Iontophoresis machine. If not you can try adding baking soda to increase the current passed through, or look for a better water solution such as mineral dense bottled water.

Below you will see the latest most well known Iontophoresis devices on the market at the moment along with key details that will help you determine which product is right for you.

Iontophoresis Device Comparison

Device	Price (USD)	Shipping	Prescription?	Specs	Warranty
Idrostar Pro Pulse	$1667 inc VAT	Shipped from UK - £40 within Mainland UK, Ships worldwide quotation received on contact	No	- Pulse current & direct current - 4 water trays included - Powered by a built-in rechargeable battery - 2 generators gives the choice of 4 extremities to be treated at once or just the two - Option of underarm pads extension, paid - Carry case included - VAT exemption for home use	2 years	Click to visit website
Fischer MD-2	$975	Shipped from US - Ships worldwide, various courier choices available	Yes	- Pulse current & direct current - Comes with trays and underarm pads - Mains powered - Automatic polarity reversal - Treatment timer - Memory features allowing you to start treatment with one click - Pre-set treatment modes - Control output levels - 32 character LCD display - Touch pad keyboard - Adjustable current	1 year	Click to visit website
Idromed 5 PC	$843	Shipped from the EU - Worldwide shipping included in price	No	- Pulsed current & direct current - Mains powered - Carry case - Easily portable - Carry case doubles as two treatment tubs - Cool design - Foot switch included - Dial to increase polarity - Optional underarm pads - Option to choose mains output - VAT exemption for home use	4 years	Click here to visit website
Hidrex PC (PS 500)	$810	Shipped from the EU - Worldwide shipping included in price	No	- Pulsed current & direct current - Mains powered - Timer for each treatment area - Memory features to save sessions for each area - Can treat hands & feet simultaneously - Adjustable current - Modern design - Carry case - Carry case doubles up as two treatment tubs - Option to choose mains output - VAT exemption for home use	2 years	Click to visit website
I2MA	$767 inc VAT	Shipped from UK - £40 within Mainland UK, Ships worldwide quotation received on contact	No	- Direct current only - 4 trays - Built-in rechargeable battery - 1 generator (so only two extremities at a time) - VAT Exemption for home use - Underarm pads paid option	2 years	Click to visit website
Fischer MD-1a	$699	Shipped from US - Ships worldwide, various courier choices available	Yes	- Direct current only - 2 trays and 2 underarm pads - Mains powered - Adjustable current - Auto-sense current sensor to reduce sensation	1 year	Click to visit website
Idromed 5 DC	$636	Shipped from the EU - Worldwide shipping included in price	No	- Direct current only - Carry case - Carry case doubles up as two treatment tubs - Mains powered - Adjustable current - Cool design - Easily portable - Hands & feet treated simultaneously - Underarm pads paid option	2 years	Click to visit website
Hidrex DC (GS 400)	$610	Shipped from the EU - Worldwide shipping included in price	No	- Direct current only - Carry case - Carry case doubles as two treatment tubs - Mains powered - Easily portable - Modern design - Timer	2 years	Click to visit website
Idrostar	$507 inc VAT	Shipped from UK - £40 within Mainland UK, Ships worldwide quotation received on contact	No	- Direct current only - 2 Trays included - 2 Extremities treated simultaneously - Powered by 4 AA batteries - VAT exemption for home user - Carry case included - Paid underarm pads option	2 years	Click to visit website

---

**Please Note: Mains powered machines come with the obvious health warnings.

I hope you find the above table helpful. If you have any experience with any of the products above, please submit your comments below, I’d be more than happy to publish your findings.

To compliment your Iontophoresis treatment you should look at the various excessive sweating antiperspirants available. Especially if you’re looking to treat the underarms, as antiperspirants have been proven to be more effective against fighting axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating).