TOKYO—Studies have shown vitamin C plays a vital role in skin health, and results from a Japanese study suggest a newly developed electric stimulation is effective at increasing skin collagen content, and bipolar stimulation is more effective on the iontophoresis of not only vitamin C, but also some medicines such as low- and high-molecular drugs directed to the target organ (Int J Cosmet Sci. 2010;32(3):234). First in the study, a control group was not given electrical stimulation and four groups were stimulated with a unipolar pulse for 0.5 to 10 minutes every day for one week. The hydroxyproline level in the skin was increased depending on the length of the stimulation. Second, a control group was not given any electrical stimulation, and three groups were treated with (1) a vitamin C solution without any stimulation, (2) a bipolar pulse for 10 minutes with saline, or (3) a bipolar pulse for 5 minutes with the vitamin C solution. Significant increases were found in all the stimulation groups, although subjects treated with the vitamin C solution without any stimulation did not have any effects compared to the control. Researchers said, “In order to increase the hydroxyproline levels in skin, a vitamin C must be delivered with bipolar stimulation as a method of iontophoresis.”