Zinc in ion therapy is described as which?

• A. Positively charged, used to promote healing, most often with open lesions and ulcerations
• B. Neutral, used to promote healing
• C. Negatively charged, used to promote healing
• D. Positively charged, used to treat calcific deposits

Answer: (A)

Zinc used in ion therapy is positively charged because it delivers Zn2+ ions. In iontophoresis, charged ions are driven into tissues by an electrical current, with positively charged ions being propelled from the positive electrode into the skin. Zinc acts as a cofactor for enzymes needed in wound repair, helping processes like collagen synthesis, epithelialization, and immune function. This makes it useful for promoting healing, especially in open wounds and ulcers. It wouldn’t be described as neutral or negatively charged, and its typical use isn’t for calcific deposits.