If adverse skin reaction occurs during electrotherapy, what is the appropriate action?

• A. Ignore it and continue therapy.
• B. Proceed to higher intensity to test tolerance.
• C. Stop treatment, assess skin, document, and modify parameters.
• D. Notify manufacturer and discontinue therapy.

Answer: (C)

When adverse skin reaction occurs during electrotherapy, safety comes first. Stop the treatment immediately to prevent further injury. Carefully inspect the skin for redness, irritation, or burns, and check that the electrodes are placed correctly with good contact and appropriate coupling medium. Document what was observed, the time it happened, and any symptoms the patient reports, so the event is clearly recorded for ongoing care. Then adjust the plan before continuing—lower the current intensity and/or shorten the session duration, reposition or resize the electrodes to reduce current density, ensure the skin is clean and dry, and consider longer ramp times or alternative settings. Only resume once the skin has stabilized and the treatment parameters have been modified to minimize recurrence. Notifying the manufacturer or discontinuing therapy is reserved for situations suggesting a device fault or a safety issue beyond routine parameter adjustment.