NIC Esthetician Written ExamTreatment ProceduresMedium
A client with mature, dehydrated skin and visible fine lines is seeking a non-invasive treatment to improve skin hydration and plumpness. The esthetician recommends a treatment that uses a mild electric current to infuse water-soluble products into the skin. What electrical modality is being described, and which pole is typically used to introduce negatively charged products?
- AHigh-frequency; indirect method.
- BGalvanic current; negative pole (anaphoresis).
- CLED therapy; red light.
- DMicrocurrent; positive current.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Galvanic current; negative pole (anaphoresis).
Galvanic current is used for iontophoresis, which involves introducing water-soluble products into the skin. When introducing negatively charged products (like many hydrating serums), the negative pole (anaphoresis) is used to repel the product into the skin.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. High-frequency uses alternating current for antiseptic and stimulating effects, not for product infusion.
- C. LED therapy uses light to stimulate cellular processes, not electric current for product infusion.
- D. Microcurrent is primarily used for muscle re-education and toning, not for direct product infusion via polarity.
Iontophoresis (Anaphoresis)
A process of using galvanic current to force water-soluble products that contain ions into the skin. Anaphoresis uses the negative pole to introduce negatively charged products.
- Uses galvanic (direct) current.
- Enhances product penetration.
- Negative pole (anaphoresis) introduces negative ions.
- Positive pole (cataphoresis) introduces positive ions.
Memory trick: Galvanic Poles Push Potions