Vaniqa cream is a topical treatment for excessive facial hair growth in women, also known as hirsutism. When applied to the face and under the chin, Vaniqa cream slows down the growth of unwanted hair.
Vaniqa cream contains the active ingredient eflornithine. Eflornithine blocks the action of a specific enzyme involved in the production of hair, slowing down hair growth. Vaniqa cream does not remove hair, but by slowing its growth it can make facial hair lighter and finer.
When used correctly, Vaniqa cream can effectively reduce the appearance of unwanted facial hair. It is important to remember that Vaniqa cream will not remove hair, or prevent its growth completely, and must be used regularly for best results.
The benefits of Vaniqa cream are usually seen within 2 months. If no results are seen within 4 months of treatment, it may not be the best option for you and should be stopped.
Vaniqa cream does not have a permanent effect and will therefore only work for as long as you continue to use it as treatment. When you stop using Vaniqa cream, your rate of hair growth will return to normal within 8 weeks.
The active ingredient in Vaniqa cream is eflornithine.
The inactive ingredients in Vaniqa cream are cetostearyl alcohol, macrogol cetostearyl ether, dimeticone, glyceryl stearate, macrogol stearate, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), liquid paraffin, phenoxyethanol, propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), purified water, and stearyl alcohol. Small amounts of sodium hydroxide (E524) are sometimes added to keep acidity levels normal.
The recommended dosage is to apply a thin layer of Vaniqa 11.5% cream over the affected area twice daily, at least 8 hours apart.
Always use Vaniqa cream as instructed by a doctor or pharmacist. Clean and dry the area of skin thoroughly before application, waiting at least 5 minutes after shaving or using another method of hair removal. Apply a thin layer of cream and gently rub into the skin until it is no longer visible on the skin. Wash your hand thoroughly, an wait at least 5 minutes for the cream to dry and be absorbed before applying makeup. If possible, do not wash the area of skin within 4 hours of applying Vaniqa cream. Repeat twice daily, at least 8 hours apart. If you experience irritation when applying the cream, you may wish to try applying it once daily until your skin has become accustomed to the treatment.
Like all medicines, Vaniqa cream can cause side effects in some patients. Common side effects, affecting up to 1 in 10 users, include:
Uncommon side effects, which can affect up to 1 in 100 users, include:
Rare side effects (up to 1 in 1000 cases) include:
Do NOT use Vaniqa if you are allergic to eflornithine or any of the other ingredients in this medication. Before using Vaniqa, tell your doctor if you are experiencing any other medical problems, in particular those directly related to your kidneys or liver.
This medication has no specific drug interactions. Before using Vaniqa cream, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using an other medications, including those purchased over the counter without a prescription.
Do NOT use Vaniqa cream if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor about alternative means of reducing excess facial hair.
There are several different treatment options available to women who struggle with excessive facial hair growth. While Vaniqa cream aims to slow the rate of hair growth over time, Electrolysis is a method of hair removal which involves removing individual hair follicles and destroying the growth centre of each hair. Unlike Vaniqa cream, electrolysis can have permanent effects, but often takes several sessions to be successful and can be expensive. If you are considering electrolysis, speak to your doctor about the costs, benefits and risks, and whether this is the right treatment for you.
Alongside Vaniqa, there are a range of over-the-counter products to help with excess facial hair in women. These are generally hair removal products, including creams and waxing products, as well as products which bleach unwanted hair to reduce its appearance. Choosing the right product for you is important, but can be difficult given the variety of choice. Speak to a pharmacist for advice on different products before trying each one.
You can wear makeup when using Vaniqa cream, but you should wait for the cream to dry and be absorbed before applying makeup on top.
Vaniqa cream does not have a permanent effect. Your rate of hair growth will return to normal within 8 weeks of stopping treatment.
Vaniqa cream should not be used on areas of the body other than the face and under the chin.
Vaniqa cream does not remove hair or cause it to fall out, but slows the growth rate of hair in women. It should not be used for any other form of hair removal other than to reduce the appearance of excess hair on the face or under the chin.
You can shave or use another hair removal method before applying Vaniqa cream if you wish. If you do so, wait at least 5 minutes after shaving before applying Vaniqa cream to avoid irritation.
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