Making Iontophoresis Machine

21

As I have been promising for a long time, here is a guide to make Iontophoresis device at home.

I have covered Iontophoresis machines, how these work, the options available in market etc in separate posts, so I would not repeat those here. However, you should check out my experience with homemade iontophoresis machine – it may help you to decide if its for you.

In any case, watch the following video that I created – apologies for the video quality! If I get enough interest in the video, I will update this with a better quality one soon.

Here are the items you would need to make the iontophoresis machine at home… its actually pretty easy, so give it a try. At under $40, it can save you some serious money!

 WHAT YOU NEED

  1. 12 Volt Batteryhere is where you can find the one I used.
  2. Lead with Alligator ClipI used these
  3. Aluminium Piethese do the job well

WATCH THE VIDEO

 

If you liked this video, or if it helped you in some way, please leave a note! Good luck.

Share.

About Author

I have had hyperhidrosis (palms and feet) since my childhood. I have tried/researched almost every treatment for hyperhidrosis over last decade, and in the process have acquired considerable experience that I hope will help others suffering with hyperhidrosis. I am happy to help you in whatever way I can to manage your excessive sweat problem - see the About page for more details and my contact information. Remember you are not alone, and that hyperhidrosis is entirely manageable with informed treatment. Good luck! PS: I recently published all that I have learnt about Hyperhidrosis in my book No Sweat! I encourage you to check that out as I believe its the best resource out there to understand and manage hyperhidrosis without falling for the miracle cures. Will love to hear your feedback on how to make it better.

21 Comments

  1. Hi Rohit,

    I’ve been searching the internet for days now for information about hyperhidrosis. I am happy to say that your site is very useful, and I would like to send you a big “Thank You, Sir!” for taking the time to share your knowledge with the www community.

    I would like to post you this brief question: “since iontophoresis acts like a electromotive drug administration (at least thats what I understood from Wikipedia), and we’re using salt and aluminium pies in the homemade machine, aren’t we sending aluminium chloride through the skin into the the blood current? If so, can we use a non aluminium recipient for the water without losing the treatment efficacy?”

    If you wouldn’t mind, I would also like to know what materials do licensed companies use to build their machines.

    Once again, a big “Thank You”

    Vitor, Portugal.

    • Hi Vitor,

      Thanks for the comment, and for appreciating the site – I do hope this is useful for others.

      Anyways, coming to your question:
      Note: I am not a qualified medical professional. So my observations below should not be taken as one!

      1. Iontophoresis process does not breakdown the salt in Sodium and Chloride, much less enable production of Aluminium Chloride. So, I think that Aluminium Chloride being absorbed in the skin is not likely.

      2. Typical iontophoresis process lasts less than 15 minutes on relatively mild voltage – I don’t think there is any real risk of Aluminium ions being passed in to your skin.

      3. The over the counter antiperspirants (e.g. Gillette) contain Aluminium Chloride and are absorbed in the skin without significant side effects. I don’t think Iontophoresis is any more dangerous!

      4. Most of the commercially available iontophoresis machines (e.g. Hidrex) use Aluminium or Steel electrodes. Where Steel is offered, its primarily for aesthetic purposes (as it does not dis-color) and not due to any risk from using Aluminium plates.

      Hope this helped?

      • Sweetniki Bissette on

        hi. first I would like to say thankyou for your help. I would like to know with the home made machine what can I do to make it work for my arm pits.

  2. Hi Rohit,

    Thanks for posting your video. Yeah, as you have mentioned the commercial ones are really dearer costing 600~1000$, with some fancy options serving the same purpose. Considering the battery life of home made ionto, does it maintenance costs reaches well over the commercial ones for lifetime treatment?

  3. Nice Video demonstration – I have had the RA fisher for years and found (3) 9 volt batteries wired in series for a total of 27 volts works much better than the $700 RA fisher and I can just store them in a glasses case. I put together a similar home machine except with (3) 9 volt batteries in series. So total of 27 volts. Your body typically will allow around 20 to 25 milliamps of current just depending on body type. Females will normally allow more current than men. The 9 volt batteries typically store from 400 to 600 milliamp hours. So they can last close to 20 sessions. You can get connections for 9 volt batteries at any Radio Shack or electronics store. You of course need three 9 volt battery connectors. Wiring these connectors in series is simply just positive to negative and then use wire nuts or electrical tape. There you have it, now just plug connectors to batteries and use wires with alligator clips, one to the positive of the 1st battery and negative of the 3rd battery and follow your instructions. Easy to find online how to wire series vs parallel if you need a diagram. Wiring in series increases the voltage. If 3 batteries is too much, you can wire 2 batteries in series for 18 volts. Be careful not to let positive and negative ends touch.

  4. For a compact home made machine. (3) 9 volt batteries wired in series for a total of 27 volts DC and store in a glasses case for example. Your body typically will allow around 20 milliamps of DC current just depending on body type. Females will normally allow more current than men. The 9 volt batteries typically store around 400 milliamp hours. So they can last close to 20 sessions at 20 or more minutes a side. You can get connections for 9 volt batteries at any Radio Shack or electronics store. You need three 9 volt battery snap on connectors. Wiring these connectors in series is simply just positive to negative and then use wire nuts or electrical tape. There you have it, now just plug connectors to batteries and use wires with alligator clips, one to the positive of the 1st battery and negative of the 3rd battery and follow instructions above with water and pie pans. Easy to find online how to wire series vs parallel if you need a diagram. Wiring in series increases the voltage. If 3 batteries is too much, you can wire 2 batteries in series for 18 volts. Be careful not to let positive and negative alligator clip ends touch or a short could create a fire. Typically treat 10 to 20 minutes and reverse just like other machines. FYI Do not travel with batteries connected. If they short, you could cause a fire.

  5. Hi, I am rahman, 20th from Indonesia. I can’t spek English. My engglis very bad.

    I have hyperdosis in my palm and feet since
    childhood, and that’s very distubing my activities.

    I need a friends discussion. Because I have
    lot questions about iontophoresis device assembly,
    Please Add my blackberry pin 7A94B823
    or email [email protected]
    or id line:
    mr_geops (I please
    add contact me),

    i want ask a question?

    I’ve bought equipment to made iontophoresis device, tell me,
    if there are less precise

    1. “Yuasa” accu/betery 12v 10 ah
    2. cable and clips (for connector)
    3. palte alumunium
    4. salt
    5. water

    I look at the video youtube
    him use aquaphor baby, i am not getting aquaphor in my location, does not
    matter? Not use aquaphor baby.

    After iontophoresis device already. When ever I try put my palm at seme times , I get
    electro shock… is normal? (Make me scares use the device)

    whether friends do experience the same thing?

  6. how often do you replace the battery?
    should you use special water like a temperature or something or like saline?
    Where can i get bigger sized aluminum plates for the feet can u put a link?

  7. Thanks a lot ! I believe you have it all worked out I your machine , it’s really a simple machine and people seem to be getting robbed for 1000$. I haven’t tried your machine but will be buying materials soon . Question , should I stay away from certain metals ? I need bigger plates so I can treat my feet. Thanks

    • Clip to two moist sponges and hold one under each armpit. Some say to reverse the battery +/- after half the time. Let me know how it works out for you

  8. Pingback: DIY Iontophoresis Machine Homemade – GizmoScene

  9. The guy that I got the machine from (the homemade version of it) instructed me to put my hands into the water for 10 minutes, then REVERSE the current (the electrodes both pans were connected to are now switched) and put my hands in for another 10 minutes.
    It makes each session last over 20 minutes though, and I havent seen that instruction anywhere else on the Internet.
    Do you guys do it the way I described it? Do you pay attention to which electrode each hand is connected to every time? Does it matter at all?

  10. Wow, wonderful blog format! How long have you ever been blogging for? you made blogging glance easy. The full glance of your site is fantastic, as smartly as the content material!

Leave A Reply

Skip to toolbar