Faradic current: pulsed, asymmetric current with short pulses (typically under one millisecond) at roughly 50–100 Hz, used to contract muscles via motor nerves. Galvanic current: continuous direct current, used for iontophoresis and skin-cleansing procedures. Microcurrent: currents in the microampere range, subsensory, marketed for facial toning.
High frequency: a high-voltage, low-current modality applied through a glass electrode, producing warmth and a characteristic ozone scent at the skin surface. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): a pain-relief modality targeting sensory nerves rather than muscles. EMS (electrical muscle stimulation): the modern general term for faradic-type muscle stimulation.