What is a characteristic of the medications introduced by phonophoresis?

• A. They are heated prior to application
• B. They are injected directly into tissues
• C. They penetrate the skin without using heat
• D. They require oral ingestion for effect

Answer: (C)

Phonophoresis is a technique that uses ultrasound to enhance the delivery of medications through the skin, allowing them to penetrate without the use of heat. This method utilizes sound waves to create vibrations that facilitate the absorption of topical medications, making it effective for delivering therapeutic agents directly to the targeted tissues.

While heating the medication could intensify penetration, phonophoresis specifically focuses on the ultrasound's properties that promote drug absorption, rather than on the heating aspect. Additionally, medications used in this technique are not injected directly into tissues, and they do not require oral ingestion, as the objective is to achieve localized treatment through transdermal delivery. Therefore, the characteristic that best describes the medications introduced by phonophoresis is their ability to penetrate the skin effectively without the need for heat.