Doctors' Comments

Manual of Dermatologic Therapeutics. 4th edition. Chicago, IL: Little Brown & Co.; p.246.

"Iontophoresis with tap water is an effective therapy that presumably acts by producing a physical blockage of the sweat ducts at the level of the stratum corneum....A battery-powered iontophoresis unit (Drionic) is available for home use."

Kenneth A. Arndt, M.D. 
Professor of Dermatology 
Harvard Medical School 
Chief, Dept. of Dermatology 
Beth Israel Hospital, Boston 
 

Current Therapy in Dermatology—2 (edited by Provost & Farmer) Philadelphia, PA: B.C. Decker Inc.; pp.273-274.

"Results with the Drionic device have been very good in patients who have hyperhidrosis; 80 percent or more have shown some improvement and have continued its use."

Mervyn L. Elgart, M.D.Professor & Chairman 
Department of Dermatology 
George Washington University Medical Center 
Washington, DC 
 

Common Skin Disorders. 3rd edition. Oradell, NJ: Medical Economics Books; pp.117-119.

"...electrophoresis with tap water may be tried; it's claimed to be an effective way of controlling excessive sweating, often for weeks on end. Battery-operated instruments (General Medical Co.) are available for home use."

Ernst Epstein, M.D. 
Professor of Dermatology 
University of California, San Francisco 
 

Psychocutaneous Disease. New York: Gruen & Stratton; p.243.

"Recently an iontophoresis unit has become available for home use at reasonable cost; marketed as Drionic (General Medical Company, Los Angeles, CA) it has gained excellent patient acceptance."

Caroline S. Koblenzer, M.D. 
Associate Clinical Professor 
Department of Dermatology 
School of Medicine 
University of Pennsylvania 
 

The 1988 Year Book of Dermatology. (edited by Sober & Fitzpatrick) Chicago, IL: Year Book Medical Publisher;  p.125.

"The Drionic home-use apparatus seems to be effective in reducing hyperhidrosis, providing a definite inhibitory response by 3 weeks."

Arthur R. Rhodes, M.D. 
Associate Professor 
Harvard Medical School 
Boston, MA 
  
  
Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. (8th edition) Harry L. Arnold, M.D.; Richard B. Odom, M.D.; and William D. James, M.D.; Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co.; p.908.

"Iontophoresis with plain tap water is frequently effective, using a Drionic device...(Schoch Letter 1987, 37: Items 117 and 132)...." 
 

Merck Manual. (16th edition) Merck & Co., Inc. Rahway NJ: p.2452.

“In some patients, tap-water iontophoresis (using the Drionic®) device may be effective.”

 

Advanced Dermatologic Therapy. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co.; p.2.

"...Includes details on the new Drionic device (battery operated. 7 to 20 ma) now available to the public for home tap water iontophoretic treatment of hyperhidrosis of the palms, soles or axilla. In 10 patients (treated 20 minutes three times a week for two weeks) sweating was reduced for up to six weeks."

Walter B. Shelley, M.D. 
Professor of Dermatology 
E. Dorinda Shelley, M.D. 
Professor & Chief of Dermatology 
Department of Medicine 
Medical College of Ohio 
 

Pediatric Dermatology. (edited by Schachner & Hansen) New York, NY: Churchill Livingston; p.643.

"Older [pediatric] patients may use tap water iontophoresis with new [Drionic] portable delivery systems."

Robert Silverman, M.D. 
Assistant Professor 
Dept. of Dermatology & Pediatrics 
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 
Director, Dept. of Pediatric Dermatology 
University Hospital of Cleveland 
 

Clinical Dermatology. 2nd edition. St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby Co.; p.704.

"Iontophoresis (the application of low-level electric current to the surface of the skin) results in reduced production of sweat at that site. A battery-operated device conforming to the shape of the treated area, using tap water—wetted pads in contact with the skin of the palms, soles, or axilla, is available for patient self use....95% of patients showed improvement in 2 weeks, and 86% remained improved at 6 weeks."

Thomas P. Habif, M.D. 
Adjunct Associate Professor of 
Clinical Medicine (Dermatology) 
Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 
 

Manual of Therapy for Skin Diseases. New York, NY: Churchill Livingston; p.153.

"Iontophoresis...a commercially available Drionic device delivering 20 ma is effective."

Timothy G. Berger, M.D. 
Asst. Clinical Professor, Dept. of Dermatology 
University of California, San Francisco 
Chief, Department of Dermatology 
San Francisco General Hospital

Peter M. Elias, M.D. 
Prof. & Vice Chairman, Dept. of Dermatology 
University of California, San Francisco 
Chief, Dermatology Service 
Veterans Administration Medical Center 
San Francisco

Bruce U. Wintroub, M.D. 
Professor & Chairman, Dept. of Dermatology 
University of California, San Francisco 
 

Super Skin.* New York, NY: Clarkson N. Potter Inc.; pp.235-236.

"Until recently, iontophoresis could be performed only in the dermatologist's office, a clinic, or a hospital and required the use of expensive equipment; further, multiple patient visits were required. Now, however, relatively inexpensive home units are available. A few years ago, Drionic, a home iontophoresis device, was introduced in the United States. It consists of a battery-powered generator that acts as a source of electric current. The current is delivered to the affected area through water saturated wool pads suspended in small plastic boxes. Early reports concerning the success of this product for reducing excessive sweating have been encouraging."

Nelson L. Novick, M.D. 
Associate Clinical Professor 
Department of Dermatology 
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, NY