Which process infuses water-soluble products into the skin using electric current?

• A. Iontophoresis
• B. Cataphoresis
• C. Desincrustation
• D. Phoresis

Answer: (A)

Using a mild electric current to push water-soluble ingredients into the skin is called iontophoresis. When a charged, water-soluble product is applied with the appropriate electrode, the electric field drives its ions through the stratum corneum and into the deeper layers of the skin. The movement depends on the product’s charge, its concentration, the skin condition, and the duration of the treatment, all of which influence how effectively the active ingredients penetrate. This is different from cleansing methods like desincrustation, which uses an alkaline solution to emulsify sebum for removal rather than to deliver ingredients, and from broader terms that describe ion movement under electricity but aren’t specifically about infusing water-soluble products into the skin.