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Vaniqa - Important Information
A cream to stop hair growth, Vaniqa contains the active ingredient eflornithine. Eflornithine works within the hair follicle and helps to block production of the hair shaft. This helps to reduce the rate of hair growth. In trials it has shown a significant improvement in the unwanted facial hair of 70% of women.
Vaniqa has also been shown to significantly reduce how bothered patients are about their facial hair and how long they spend removing, treating or concealing their facial hair.
Obtain a Vaniqa cream prescription from your doctor or buy online.
Vaniqa Information
What is Vaniqa and what is it used for?
Vaniqa Cream is used for hair growth prevention. It is suitable for women who are suffering from unwanted hair on the upper lip, chin and neck.
If you use Vaniqa, you will need to have a medical examination from your doctor to rule out any underlying causes of their excessive hair growth.
Vaniqa is not a permanent hair removal cream. However, it is very effective and many users strongly recommend this treatment because they experience such positive Vaniqa results. You can read Vaniqa cream reviews from our patients here.
How does Vaniqa Cream work?
Enzymes are involved in hair production and are located inside the hair follicle.
Eflornithine — the active ingredient in Vaniqa — blocks these hair-producing enzymes and therefore slows down hair production.
This reduces the appearance of hairs, shrinks hairs, and eventually stops them from growing.
It’s worth remembering that — like all hair removal treatments — Vaniqa doesn’t get rid of hair completely or permanently stop hair from growing. However, when used regularly this effective topical treatment can slow down hair production so much that it is vastly reduced or, in some cases, doesn’t grow at all.
Does Vaniqa work on coarse hair?
Vaniqa should work on coarse hair if you have coarse hairs on your face. These can often be found on the upper lip or chin.
Vaniqa doesn’t get rid of hair or permanently stop hair from growing, but it should help make a difference to coarse hair. When used regularly, Vaniqa can slow down hair production to a point where it is vastly reduced or it doesn’t even grow at all.
How long does Vaniqa take to work?
It is important to persevere in the beginning and to keep applying Vaniqa Cream consistently and regularly. This will allow the treatment to work properly.
You should see positive and noticeable benefits in four to eight weeks of using the treatment. For some women, it will be quicker — some users notice a change within a week of use — and for some it may be longer.
It is recommended that you try using Vaniqa regularly for four months before switching to an alternative. If you do not see a benefit within this time, you should stop using the treatment and seek advice from your GP or pharmacist on how to proceed.
Vaniqa alternatives
There are a few non-prescription alternatives for facial hair removal.
- Shaving
- Waxing
- Plucking
- Bleaching
- Threading
- Laser and electrolysis treatments
Remember that laser and electrolysis treatments should always be carried out by a trained and registered professional.
Your GP may also suggest:
- Losing weight if you're overweight (this can help to control hormone levels, which can affect unwanted hair growth)
- Taking a contraceptive pill to help control hormone levels
If Vaniqa hair removal cream and the above Vaniqa alternatives do not work for you, your GP may refer you to a specialist for further advice and treatment.
Vaniqa warnings
Vaniqa should not cause a harmful interaction with any of your other current medicines. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medicines for further information.
Vaniqa cream is not a hair removal cream and it does not permanently remove unwanted facial hair. It helps to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair making it less noticeable and problematic. Vaniqa needs to used continuously to have an effect.
The growth of excessive hair in women can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Before starting treatment for excessive facial hair you should always have a thorough medical examination with your doctor to ensure that there is no underlying cause that needs to be addressed. These can include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), some hormone-producing tumours as well as taking cyclosporin, steroids, minoxidil, phenobarbitone, phenytoin or male hormones.
Is Vaniqa safe during pregnancy?
The potential risk of eflornithine use during pregnancy is unknown, so we don’t know if Vaniqa is safe during pregnancy.
Therefore it is recommended that you do not use Vaniqa if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Vaniqa is also not recommended for use while breast-feeding.
Rather than combining Vaniqa and pregnancy, users are advised to find an alternative treatment.
It’s always a good idea to discuss any treatment options with your doctor or pharmacist, and to choose the lowest-risk medicine possible to treat your condition during pregnancy.
How to use Vaniqa Cream
Vaniqa Cream is easy enough to use. You just need to follow the instructions in the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with the treatment.
Here is a quick overview of how to use Vaniqa Cream:
- Vaniqa Cream should be applied twice daily, at least eight hours apart
- Vaniqa should be used after cleaning/cleansing and before applying moisturiser, cosmetics or sun creams
- Apply a thin layer of Vaniqa Cream to the affected area(s) of the face, and under the chin if required
- Rub in thoroughly
- Do not wash the treated areas for at least four hours after application to allow Vaniqa to have time to have an effect
For more in-depth instructions on how to use Vaniqa Cream, you can read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with the medicine.
When using Vaniqa, you will still need to remove excess hair. You should continue your normal hair removal method whilst using Vaniqa. You should find that you need to do it less often if your treatment is effective.
Carry out your normal hair removal before you apply Vaniqa. To avoid a burning or stinging sensation, it is best to wait at least five minutes after shaving, waxing or plucking before applying Vaniqa hair cream.
If stinging or burning occurs, reduce Vaniqa Cream applications to once daily. Some users may develop skin intolerance to Vaniqa, even after months of treatment. If this happens to you, reduce applications to once daily and then slowly increase back to twice a day. Should you find that intolerance continues, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
How long do you have to use Vaniqa?
To see a difference in your condition, you will have to keep applying Vaniqa hair removal cream consistently. Applying it regularly will allow the medication to start to have an effect. You should see some improvement in four to eight weeks of treatment.
However, many users see a noticeable difference much sooner, with some describing positive results within a week of using the cream.
Our own customers at The Independent Pharmacy describe Vaniqa Cream working very quickly and effectively to tackle unwanted facial hair. You can read more about what real users think about Vaniqa on our Vaniqa Cream reviews page.
For some users, Vaniqa may take longer. It may take up to eight weeks to have an effect in some women. If you don’t see a benefit, you should use Vaniqa regularly for four months before stopping treatment and seeking further guidance from your doctor or pharmacist.
Can Vaniqa be used on the body?
Vaniqa Cream has only been studied for hair removal use on the face and neck.
It isn’t recommended for application elsewhere on the body. We don’t know how your body would react to Vaniqa, and it is unlikely to be effective.
Vaniqa ingredients
It is generally a good idea to find out what’s in a medical treatment before you start using it — especially if you have any known allergies.
Below is a list of Vaniqa Cream ingredients (both active and inactive) that this treatment contains.
The active ingredient in Vaniqa Cream is:
- Eflornithine 11.5%
Vaniqa Cream also contains the following inactive ingredients to complete the product:
- Cetostearyl alcohol
- Macrogol cetostearyl ether
- Dimeticone
- Glyceryl stearate
- Macrogol stearate;
- Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218);
- Liquid paraffin
- Phenoxyethanol
- Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)
- Purified water
- Stearyl alcohol
Tiny amounts of sodium hydroxide (E524) are sometimes added to keep acidity levels (pH levels) normal.
Vaniqa Cream should not be used by people who are allergic to the active ingredient eflornithine or any of the other ingredients we’ve listed above.
Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet included before taking any new medicine.
Vaniqa side effects
Vaniqa side effects are unusual but may still occur.
As with any medicine, there is a risk that you may encounter Vaniqa Cream side effects should you choose to use this treatment. However, most users have an overwhelmingly positive experience with this treatment — you may not see or experience any adverse effects at all when using Vaniqa.
If you do experience side effects from Vaniqa, the most common side effect is acne. This may be either the worsening of existing acne or causing acne in just over one in 10 people who use Vaniqa.
Other common side effects are:
- Skin reactions from in-growing hair
- Hair loss
- A burning, stinging or tingling feeling
- Dry skin
- Itching
- Redness
- Rash
These reactions at the site of application tend to affect around one in every 100 patients, so they are rare.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a complete list of possible side effects. You can read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) enclosed with your medicine for a full list of side effects.
Some patients can develop skin intolerance to Vaniqa even after months of treatment. If this occurs, reduce applications to once a day and then slowly increase back up to twice a day. If intolerance continues, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for further guidance.
Likewise, if you are worried about any Vaniqa side effects listed above, or you are worried about any effects not listed — especially anything severe, persistent or painful — due to this medicine, stop using it and speak to your pharmacist or doctor straight away.
Vaniqa 11.5% Cream reviews
Vaniqa 11.5% Cream FAQs
For best results, apply Vaniqa cream twice a day to the areas with hair around the lips and chin.
Initially there may be a slight tingling or redness, if this happens you can reduce the frequency of application to once daily. This can then be increased back to twice daily after a week or so.
Rub in the cream until it is absorbed into the skin and is not longer visible. Do not wash off for at least 4 hours.
When applying make up or sunscreens, it is advisable to wait at least 5 minutes to allow the Vaniqa cream to be properly absorbed.
Vaniqa needs to be used continuously for the effects to be seen and maintained. It may take up to 8 weeks for the full benefits to become apparent.
During use it is safe and acceptable to use depilatory creams, shave or pluck the affected areas. The manufacturer advises that the under these circumstances it best to allow the skin to rest for 5 minutes before applying Vaniqa to avoid skin irritation.
It is important to note that results will not be seen sooner if the cream is applied more frequently.
Vaniqa is well tolerated as it is applied where you need it. Currently there are no documented interactions with other medicines.
If you experience any side effects it is important to report them this can be done directly through us or through the yellowcardmhra.gov.uk. These will then be documented and added to the medical information in the future.
Vaniqa is effective in 70% of women who use it for a continued period. It is important to note that Vaniqa has to be used continuously for the hair growth to be reduced and for you to see a difference. Discontinuation of the cream will result in the hair production restarting and the results reversed in the space of 8 weeks.
Compared to other hair loss products, it is easy to apply and is painless however it does not get rid of unwanted hair permanently and needs to be used continuously for the hair loss to continue.
If you stop using the cream the hair production will start again and it is likely the unwanted hair will return within an 8-week period.
Alcohol has no effect on Vaniqa cream.
The manufacturer recommends that Vaniqa cream should not be used during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding.
Excessive hair growth can be caused by:
Medicines - It is known that the following medicines can cause excessive hair growth:
Minoxidil (for blood pressure), cyclosporin (used after organ transplants to prevent organ rejection), glucocorticoids (steroids - used in rheumatoid arthritis), phenytoin and phenobarbitone (for seizures). Some contraceptive pills can also cause excessive facial hair.
If you are taking any of the above medicines and you are also experiencing excessive hair growth, it would be worth talking to your doctor or healthcare professional.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - In women, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can cause weight gain, acne and excessive facial hair. This can be effectively treated by your GP.
Family history – Women with a family history of thick or dark facial hair in the females are also likely to suffer with excess facial hair.
Asian or South-East Asian descent – Women with this background tend to have darker hair which can make facial hair seem more pronounced.
Menopause or hormonal changes – Hormonal changes around the time of puberty or menopause can alter the balance of male and female hormones. This can sometimes result in higher levels of facial hair.
Still unsure about this treatment?
Ask our medical team for impartial information and advice about any treatment we provide or medical condition that we treat before you buy.
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