Iontophoresis vs. b. toxin injections
Sandra E Mirkovic, MD
Which treatment is better for treating excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)?
If you have hyperhidrosis, you are probably researching which treatment is more suitable. You can choose between antiperspirants, medications, botulinum toxin injections, iontophoresis, miraDry, and surgical procedures.
B.toxin injections are a common treatment for hyperhidrosis. However, some may find it painful, expensive, or experience bothersome side effects in the form of for example muscle weakness. An alternative to B.toxin injections is iontophoresis. Iontophoresis is a medical device for home use that passes a mild electric current through the treated area. And while it’s great to have so many options, it can also be overwhelming to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment.
Many wonder how these two treatments differ in terms of how long the effect lasts, price, side effects, etc. Therefore, we decided to create a table so that you can easily overview these facts and compare the different treatment methods.
| Treatment | Botox | Iontophoresis |
|---|---|---|
| Indication | Treatment of hyperhidrosis on all body parts, but not the whole body at the same time. | Treatment of hyperhidrosis on hands, feet and armpits. |
| Cost | ~600 Euro-3000 Euro for a treatment depending on the area and number of body parts to be treated. | ~460 Euro for a machine. The machine usually lasts 5-10 years. |
| Where is the treatment performed? | At the clinic. | At home by the patients themselves. |
| How long does the effect last? | 3-12 months. | Permanent effect if maintenance treatments are performed. |
| Success rate | About 90% of patients. | About 90% of patients. |
| Short-term side effects | Temporary local muscle weakness, dry skin, local redness or pain that is transient. | Skin irritation, redness, blisters. |
| Long-term side effects | Unusual. | No. |
| Serious side effects | Very rare but serious allergic reaction may occur. | No. |
| Availability | Not all clinics offer Botox treatments. | Iontophoresis machines can be ordered online for treatments at home. |
| Pain level | Local anesthesia can be applied before treatment, but often more pain relief such as morphine is required as the procedure can otherwise be experienced as very painful. | If it is painful, you should turn down the current because then it is too high. |
| Pregnancy | Not tested or approved for pregnant women. | Not tested or approved for pregnant women. |
| Breast-feeding | Not approved for breastfeeding women. | Approved for breastfeeding women. |
| Children | Approved for the treatment of children. | Approved from 12 years and above and from 5 years and above in consultation with a dermatologist (According to The British association of dermatology). |
TrustScore!
Julian has submitted a review about Hidroxa
“I can't believe it: IT WORKS! After 40 years with this annoying problem that, not always, but often plagued me, especially with heat and stress, it took less than two weeks of treatment and .. magic! The beauty is that I am not sweating in the hands anymore, but my general sweating has also been regulated, and it's fantastic. Just one word: THANK YOU“
Kate has submitted a review about Hidroxa
"I bought this product because my excessive hand sweating was in certain ways limiting my social life, and disturbing me while doing sports. I did the treatments on my hands and feet every day for 12 days. I noticed small improvements already after 6 treatments, and significant results after 10 treatments. After the first 12 treatments I started to use it every other day. When writing this review I have completed 18 treatments, and I’m really happy with the result. The positive problem I have today is that my skin is very dry, and I need to moisturize frequently."
Dario has submitted a review about Hidroxa
"After 8-9 treatments/days, I became completely dry on my hands. I started using Hidroxa almost a month ago. Now I do treatments every three days and am still completely sweat-free.The treatments are very easy to perform and painless. So far I have only treated hands but I have noticed that my feet also sweat much less than before. Do not really know why but it may be because my hand sweat triggered the foot sweat. It is a very desirable side effect. I would definitely recommend Hidroxa and am completely satisfied with the purchase. It's a game changer!"
