Vaniqa cream 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 and in trials it has shown a significant improvement in the facial hair of 70% of women. It has also been shown to significantly reduce how bothered patients are about their facial hair and how long they spent removing, treating or concealing their facial hair.
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Vaniqa cream contains eflornithine at strength of 11.5%. It also contains other inactive ingredients these are necessary to make up the cream. It also contains other inactive ingredients to help complete the product. A full list of these ingredients can be found under ‘Ingredients’.
Enzymes are involved in hair production and are located inside the hair follicle. Eflornithine, the active ingredient in Vaniqa, blocks the hair-producing enzymes and therefore slows down hair production.
Vaniqa doesn’t get rid of hair or permanently stop hair from growing, but when used regularly it can slow down hair production to a point where it is vastly reduced or even it doesn’t grow at all.
Vaniqa is the only licensed medical product for facial hair removal on the UK market.
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 effective in 70% of women who use it and results can take up to 8 weeks to be seen.
A 60g tube of Vaniqa on average last 2 months and the manufacturer advises to discontinue use if you do not see any results after 16 weeks of using it.
All medicines have side effects but this doesn’t mean you will see or experience any of them.
The most common adverse reactions that are seen with Vaniqa are: acne, dry skin, skin irritation, redness at site of application. These tend to affect around 1 in every 100 patients. For a full list of possible side effects, see ‘Side Effects’.
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.
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