Iontophoresis involves transmission of ionized medicated and non-medicated substances into the skin. An electrical field is produced between two electrodes that have opposite polarities, which either repel or attract ions within a medication. The basic principle underlying iontophoresis is that opposite charges attract each other and like charges repel each other. Thus, medications with a positive charge will be repelled by an electrode with positive polarity (anode), and those with a negative charge will be repelled by an electrode with negative polarity (cathode). Lachaud studied the use of corticoste-roids in iontophoresis, which led to the use of dexamethasone as the primary anti-inflammatory medication administered through iontophoresis treatments. Common medications used to treat orthopedic conditions through iontophoresis include dexamethasone, acetate, hydrocortisone, and lidocaine.
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