Ultrasound Gel for Microcurrent, Does It Work
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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Plain water-based ultrasound gel usually carries enough current for a microcurrent session, but it is designed to transmit sound rather than electricity, so it can conduct less well than a gel made for electrical devices and needs to stay wet.
This article covers what you need to know, such as:
- what ultrasound gel is designed for
- how it differs from conductive and electrode gel
- when it works with microcurrent
- what to check on the label
- better options for your face
and many more!
We make microcurrent devices that work with any water-based conductive serum, so we test this question often.
Key Points:
Ultrasound gel is made to carry sound waves between a probe and the skin, not to carry electrical current.
Most ultrasound gels are mostly water, which is why they often work with microcurrent.
Gels made for electrical devices, such as electrode gels, usually contain added salts to carry current more reliably.
Ultrasound gel can dry quickly and has no skincare benefit, so reapply often and cleanse afterward.
Check your device brand's warranty terms before switching away from its recommended gel.
What ultrasound gel is for
Ultrasound gel removes the air gap between an ultrasound probe and the skin so sound waves pass through. It is designed for sound, not electricity.
Most ultrasound gels are water-based, thickened into a gel, which is why they often conduct some current too.
Ultrasound gel vs conductive and electrode gel
| Ultrasound gel | Electrode or conductive gel | Microcurrent skincare gel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Sound waves | Electrical current | Electrical current plus skincare |
| Carries current | Usually, varies by formula | Yes, often with added salts | Yes |
| Skincare benefit | None | None | Often hydrating actives |
Why ions matter is in our conductive serum article.
When ultrasound gel works with microcurrent
If the gel is plain and water-based, it usually carries enough current. You should feel the same light sensation as with your usual gel, or nothing at all, without stinging.
If the device feels weaker or stings, the gel is drying or not conducting well. See our article on a device feeling weaker.
What to check on the label
Water near the top of the ingredient list.
No oils, silicones or alcohol high on the list.
Fragrance-free if your skin is sensitive.
Better options for your face
A water-based hyaluronic acid gel or serum conducts well and hydrates. Options are compared in our gel and serum guide and our gel vs serum vs aloe article.
Brand-specific advice is in our gel for NuFACE article and our gel guide for Medicube, FOREO and ZIIP.
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ultrasound gel for microcurrent
Usually yes, if it is plain and water-based. It is designed for sound rather than current, so keep it wet and reapply often.
Is microcurrent gel the same as ultrasound gel
No. Microcurrent gels are made to carry current and often add skincare actives; ultrasound gel is made to carry sound.
Is ultrasound gel conductive
Most water-based ultrasound gels conduct some current, but less reliably than gels made for electrical devices.
What can I use instead of microcurrent gel
A water-based conductive gel or serum, such as a hyaluronic acid gel, without oils or silicones.
Will ultrasound gel damage my device
Check your device brand's warranty terms before switching gels.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.