Some facts about Vaniqa

Vaniqa is the first prescription drug approved for the treatment of excessive facial hair in women. It is an enzyme inhibitor used topically to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair. It’s estimated that 20 million American women are bothered enough by facial hair to remove it once a week. Now you have a way to slow the growth of that unwanted hair.

This medicine is not a depilatory. It doesn’t remove hair. You’ll need to continue your routine method of hair removal while using this medicine. You may not see improvement for the first month of use. If your symptoms don’t improve or become worse, check with your doctor.

How Does it Work?

This medicine comes with a Patient Information Leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine.

Apply a thin layer of this medication only to the affected areas of the face and chin, and rub in well. It is usually applied twice daily at least 8 hours apart or as directed by your doctor. Do not apply for at least 5 minutes after hair removal (e.g., plucking, shaving). Do not wash the treated area for at least 4 hours.

Wash hands immediately after using this product. This medication is for use on the skin only. Avoid getting the product in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If the medication gets in these areas, rinse immediately with clean water. If this drug gets in your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water and contact your doctor.

Wait until the medication has dried completely before applying cosmetics, moisturizers, or sunscreens over the treated areas.

This product is not a hair removal product. Continue to use hair removal techniques (e.g., shaving, plucking) while using this medication. If you stop using this product, hair growth will return.

You should see some improvement in 4 to 8 weeks. This medication works slowly. Use exactly as directed. Do not use more of this product or use it more often. Your condition will not improve faster, and the risk of side effects will increase. Tell your doctor if your skin becomes red or irritated. Your doctor may direct you to apply the medication only once a day or stop the medication.

Where do you apply Vaniqa?

Anywhere except on the face and chin, in the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina, or if you have severe acne or broken skin.

Vaniqa works by inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase, an enzyme in the hair follicle of the skin that stimulates hair growth.

Reported side effects that may go away during treatment, include stinging/tingling skin, burning, redness, rash of the skin; or hair bumps (folliculitis) and acne. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor.

Vaniqa should not be used:

By women who are pregnant or nursing, because Vaniqa has not been tested to see if it causes birth defects and miscarriages in humans.

By females under age 12.

By men as it has not been tested on males.

Trying to get rid of body hair can be a frustrating experience. On this page, we will briefly discuss methods of hair removal and their effectiveness.

Laser

One of the more trendy ways to remove hair is via laser, or pulsed light, energy that goes through the hair shaft down to the follicle where it obliterates the hair’s root.

Laser hair removal can be done anywhere on the body. The best candidates are women with dark hair and light skin. Lasers won’t work on white hair, and they are much less effective on blond hair.

Electrolysis

The only method of hair removal that is permitted to be called “permanent,” electrolysis uses a tiny needle that slides down into the hair follicle until it reaches the cells responsible for hair growth.

Like other forms of hair removal, it is safe to do electrolysis anywhere on the body.

Vaniqa

Vaniqa is a topical prescription cream, also known as eflornithine 13.9%, that works by blocking an enzyme that would otherwise stimulate hair growth. Without the enzyme, hair growth is retarded in that area, and eventually may stop.

Vaniqa works best for facial hair growth on the upper lip, chin, and cheeks.

Waxing

It’s been around for centuries, but today’s waxes are far different than the sticky honey treatments of the past.

Waxing can remove hair anywhere on the body, including the upper lip, chin, eyebrows, arms and legs. A bikini wax removes hair that might show when you’re wearing a skimpy bathing suit bottom, while a Brazilian wax removes all hair from the genital area.

Shaving

Whether done with an electric or straight razor, shaving is akin to cutting hair – only it does so ultra-close to the skin. Shaving does not remove hair at the root, nor does it disturb the follicle. That means the effects are temporary, lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days.