| Summary: | Tap water iontophoresis is commonly used to treat hyperhidrosis, yet the mechanism of action for this treatment remains unknown. Here, I propose a plausible mechanism of action based on the biology of the eccrine sweat gland, reported patterns in iontophoresis effectiveness, and known dynamics of small particles in fluid systems. Specifically, I propose that iontophoresis works via the production of a colloid formed between the products of dark (mucin) and clear (aqueous solution) cells, and the jamming of nanomineral particles inside the lumen and/or the duct of the sweat gland, creating a blockage that temporarily prevents further sweat production or secretion. I further outline several feasible tests of this hypothesis.
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