What is the minimum distance required between electrodes in iontophoresis?

What is the minimum distance required between electrodes in iontophoresis?

• A. At least 6 inches apart.
• B. At least 1 inch apart.
• C. No specific distance required.
• D. At least 12 inches apart.

Answer: (A)

When delivering medication through the skin with iontophoresis, you’re guiding ions with a direct electrical current, so how far apart those electrodes sit changes how the current spreads across the skin. If the pads are too close, the current concentrates in a small area right under the electrodes, which can heat the skin, cause irritation or burns, and limit how evenly the drug is delivered over the treatment zone. Spacing them at least six inches apart helps distribute the current over a larger surface, lowers peak current density, and promotes more uniform drug diffusion between the active and return electrodes. It also reduces the chance that the current will shortcut directly between the pads and miss the broader treatment area. In clinical practice, this minimum distance supports safety and effective delivery, though the exact spacing should align with the size of the target area.

When delivering medication through the skin with iontophoresis, you’re guiding ions with a direct electrical current, so how far apart those electrodes sit changes how the current spreads across the skin. If the pads are too close, the current concentrates in a small area right under the electrodes, which can heat the skin, cause irritation or burns, and limit how evenly the drug is delivered over the treatment zone. Spacing them at least six inches apart helps distribute the current over a larger surface, lowers peak current density, and promotes more uniform drug diffusion between the active and return electrodes. It also reduces the chance that the current will shortcut directly between the pads and miss the broader treatment area. In clinical practice, this minimum distance supports safety and effective delivery, though the exact spacing should align with the size of the target area.