Vaniqa
£62.99
Vaniqa is treatment for excessive facial hair (hirsutism) in women aged 19 years and above, following a clinical assessment.
It works by slowing down hair growth at the hair follicle, helping to reduce the appearance of unwanted facial hair over time. Vaniqa is typically used alongside your usual hair removal methods for improved results.
Please Note: You are also required to complete a form at checkout. In addition, a video consultation with our pharmacist may be required.
Categories: Age verification, Facial Hair, Online Clinic, Skin & Nails
Tags: PGD
What is Vaniqa used for?
Vaniqa cream is used to treat excessive facial hair (facial hirsutism) in women. It is suitable for adult women who experience unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen and lower back.
Vaniqa is used to help slow down the growth of facial hair and improve the appearance of the skin.
How Vaniqa works
Vaniqa contains the active substance eflornithine. Eflornithine slows down the growth of hair through its effect on a specific enzyme (a protein in the body involved in the production of hair). This reduced growth at the hair follicle, helps to minimise the appearance of unwanted facial hair over time. Vaniqa is typically used alongside your usual hair removal methods for improved results.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure how to use this medicine.
Apply to the affected area twice a day, at least 8 hours apart.
- If you experience irritation (e.g. stinging burning), reduce the use of Vaniqa to once daily until the irritation has gone. If it persists contact your doctor.
- If you have just shaved or used any other hair removal method, wait at least 5 minutes before using Vaniqa. It may sting or burn if you put this cream on cut or irritated skin.
- Clean and dry the areas of the skin where you will be using the cream.
- Apply a thin layer of cream and rub it in thoroughly until no visual residual product remains on the treated areas.
- If possible, do not wash these areas of skin for 4 hours after applying the cream. Wash your hands after applying the cream.
- Wait at least 5 minutes before using make-up or sunscreen on the same areas.
- When using on the face, avoid contact with your eyes or the inside of your nose or mouth. If you should accidentally get Vaniqa into your eyes, mouth or nose, rinse well with water.
Vaniqa is not a depilatory cream, so you may need to continue with your hair removal method, for example by shaving or plucking.
It may take 8 weeks before you see results. It is important to continue using the cream. If you do not see any improvement after using it for 4 months contact your doctor. If you stop using it your original hair growth may return within 8 weeks.
If you use more Vaniqa than you should
If you put too much cream on your skin, it is unlikely to harm you.
If you or anyone else accidentally swallows Vaniqa, contact your doctor immediately.
If you forget to use Vaniqa
Apply straight away, but wait at least 8 hours before using it again.
If you stop using Vaniqa
To maintain the reduction of hair growth keep using Vaniqa continuously as indicated.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of the side effects are temporary with continued treatment or disappeared when treatment is stopped.
Side Effects
Very Common
- Acne
Common
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
- Inflammation around the hair shaft
- Itching
- Rash
- Redness
- Skin irritation and bumps caused by shaving
- Skin irritation
- Stinging, tingling or burning feeling on the skin
Uncommon
- Bumpy rash (papular rash)
- Cold sores
- Redness and irritation at the site where the cream is applied
- Eczema
- Inflammed, dry, cracked or numb lips
- Ingrowing hairs
- Pale areas on the skin
- Skin bleeding
- Skin boils
- Skin flushing
- Skin inflammation
- Sore skin
- Swelling of the mouth or face
- Unusual hair texture or hair growth
Rare
- Abnormal skin growth (skin neoplasm)
- Excessive hair growth
- Flushing, facial redness and pimples possibly with pus
- Other skin disorders
- Red, scaly and itchy skin inflammation (seborrhoeic dermatitis)
- Red, bumpy or blistering rash
- Skin cysts
- Skin tightness
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Warning & Precautions
Do not use Vaniqa if you are allergic to eflornithine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Vaniqa
- tell your doctor of any other medical problems you may be experiencing (especially related to your kidneys or liver).
- if you are unsure whether or not to use this medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Excessive growth of hair may be a result of underlying diseases. Talk to your doctor if you suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or specific hormone producing tumours, or if you take medicines that can induce hair growth, e.g. cyclosporine (following organ transplants), glucocorticoids (e.g. against rheumatic or allergic diseases), minoxidil (against high blood pressure), phenobarbitone (against seizures), phenytoin (against seizures) or hormone replacement therapy with male hormone like effects.
Vaniqa contains cetostearyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis). Vaniqa also contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Age restrictions
Women aged 19 year and over
Other Medicines and Conditions
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Talk to your doctor if you need to use other medicines on the areas of skin where you are using the cream.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
This medicine is not suitable for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Patient Information Leaflet
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6398.pdf
Ingredients
- Active Ingredients: Eflornithine. Each gram of cream contains 115 mg of eflornithine (as hydrochloride monohydrate)
- Other Ingredients: Cetostearyl alcohol; macrogol cetostearyl ether; dimeticone; glyceryl stearate; macrogol stearate; methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218); liquid paraffin; phenoxyethanol; propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216); purified water and stearyl alcohol. Tiny amounts of sodium hydroxide (E524) are sometimes added to keep acidity levels (pH levels) normal.
Product Information
- Brand Name: Vaniqa
- Route of Administration: Topical
- Legal Classification: Prescription Only Medication (POM)
- Strength: 11.5%
- Dosage From: Cream
Storage
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the box and on the bottom of the tube after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Discard the opened tube with any remaining cream after 6 months.
- Make sure the cap of the tube is tightly closed after each use.
- Do not store above 25°C.
- Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Advice & Helpful Links
