Vaniqa 11.5% Cream (60g)

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 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 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 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. 

Delivery & Shipping Information

Please note that due to the current situation with COVID-19, Royal Mail are experiencing some delays. This may mean that your order takes longer to arrive than you would normally expect. We are working hard to ensure that, where possible, all orders placed before 15:00 are still dispatched the same working day.

UK Orders

We offer FREE standard tracked delivery on orders over £40.

The following delivery options are available:

• Standard Tracked Delivery - 2 - 3 day delivery - £2.95
• Express Tracked Delivery - 1 - 2 day delivery - £4.45
• DPD Next Day - 1 - 2 working days - £6.95
• Special Delivery (Guaranteed before 21:00) - £8.95
• Saturday Guaranteed before 21:00 - £10.45

Important Delivery Information

All our orders are sent out using Royal Mail (unless stated). We always aim to dispatch all Royal Mail & DPD orders received before 15:00 the same working day. Any orders received after 15:00 or over the weekend will be dispatched the next working day. Orders will not be dispatched on weekends or bank holidays.

All orders are subject to approval by our team of doctors and pharmacists. Your delivery date in the checkout is subject to your consultation being approved by our healthcare team.

All orders can be fully tracked from your dispatch email, in your online account and from any notifications from your courier.

We ensure all parcels are in plain packaging for discreet delivery of your medicines and pharmacy goods. Where possible, we will attempt to size all parcels to fit through your letterbox in tamper-proof packaging. By placing an order on our website, you confirm that it is safe and appropriate for a package containing medicines to be posted through your letterbox, if the carrier is able to do so. You should notify our customer support team if it is not safe for the package to be posted through the letterbox, for example due to animals or small children.

Deliveries containing pharmacy-only or prescription medicines may require a signature on receipt. 

Delivery is free for all NHS prescriptions.

Royal Mail

Features:

• Fully tracked delivery
• SMS & email notifications
• Four-hour delivery window
• Change delivery date directly with Royal Mail
• Update delivery location - add a Safeplace, preferred neighbour, or update your delivery location to a local Post Office or Royal Mail Customer Service Point.

Royal Mail are the most widely recognised mail delivery company in the UK. Being on the UK’s 29 million doorsteps six days a week means they offer unparalleled price and convenience. The Independent Pharmacy uses Royal Mail’s Tracked 48, Tracked 24, and Special Delivery Guaranteed parcel services to offer reliable, fully-tracked delivery at very competitive prices. Your Royal Mail parcel will arrive with your normal daily delivery of post.

Please note: Royal Mail do not deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering. 

If you are not home to accept your delivery, a card should be left by the Royal Mail representative. This card will provide details of where you can collect the order or how to arrange re-delivery.

Should you be unable to collect your missed delivery or arrange for your medication to be redelivered by Royal Mail, the pharmacy can resend your medication to the same, or a different address provided it has been returned to us and this happens within a 30 day window.

Once a package has been shipped with Royal Mail we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

DPD

Features:

• Fully tracked delivery
• SMS & email notifications
• One-hour delivery window
• Change delivery date directly with DPD
• Update delivery location - add a Safeplace, preferred neighbour, or update your delivery location to a local collection point.

DPD Local is the most innovative parcel carrier around. Thanks to their industry-leading Predict service, they provide parcel recipients with a one hour delivery window, notified by email, so you don't have to wait in all day. What's more, it enables receivers to watch the progress of their delivery on a real-time map, all the way down to a final 15 minute time-slot. 

As well as keeping customers informed at every stage of the journey, DPD believe in maximising choice and convenience. That's why DPD provide access to a suite of options both on the day of delivery and the night before, allowing customers to take delivery of their goods in a way that suits. If you wish to reschedule, you can:

• Select an alternative delivery date
• Opt for delivery to a nominated neighbour
• Have the parcel left in a specified safe place
• Collect the parcel from your local DPD Pickup Shop
• Upgrade delivery to By 12

Please note: DPD do not deliver on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering. 

Once a package has been shipped with DPD we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

Forwarding houses

We are unable to ship orders to mailing or forwarding houses for onwards shipping to locations outside of the UK.

BFPO Postcodes

Unfortunately we are unable to deliver medicines to BFPO postcodes.

Remote Areas

Please be aware that Royal Mail Guaranteed services are not available to all customers in the UK, especially those that live in remote postcodes. Royal Mail advise customers of the following:

We deliver by 17:30 the next working day in the following postcode areas:
AB30 - 39, 41 - 45, 51 - 56
GY9 Alderney (Channel Islands)
HS1, 3 - 9
IV21 - 28, 40 - 49, 51 - 56
KA27, 28
KW1 - 3, 5 - 15
KW16 Stromness Town only
PA20 (0&9)
PA28 - 38, 41 - 49, 76, 77
PH15, 17 - 26, 31 - 40, 49, 50
ZE1

We deliver within two working days by 17:30 to the following postcodes areas:
GY1 Herm (Channel Islands)
GY9 Sark (Channel Islands)
GY10
HS2
PA60 - 75, 78
ZE2, 3

We deliver within three working days by 17:30 to the following postcode areas:
KW16 - non-Town
KW17
PH30, 41 - 44

Please note: This applies to our 'Special Delivery' and 'Saturday Guaranteed' services.

International Orders

We are currently unable to ship orders outside of the UK.

We are unable to ship orders to mailing or forwarding houses for onwards shipping to locations outside of the UK.