Vaniqa 11.5% Cream is a prescription-only medicine used to reduce unwanted facial hair growth in adult women with facial hirsutism. It contains eflornithine 115 mg/g, which acts within the hair follicle to slow the rate of hair growth.

Vaniqa does not remove existing hair. You may therefore continue to use your usual hair removal method, such as shaving or plucking, while using the cream.

The cream is applied twice daily, with applications at least 8 hours apart. Improvement may be noticed from around 8 weeks after starting treatment, although continued use is needed to maintain the effect. If no improvement is seen after 4 months, treatment should be stopped.

If treatment is stopped, hair growth may gradually return towards previous levels within around 8 weeks.

Key features

• Slows facial hair growth: Eflornithine inhibits ornithine decarboxylase, an enzyme involved in hair production within the hair follicle.
• Applied twice daily: Use a thin layer on the affected areas of the face and under the chin, leaving at least 8 hours between applications.
• Can be used alongside hair removal: Vaniqa does not remove existing hair, so shaving, plucking or another hair removal method may still be used as needed.
• Improvement may be seen from around 8 weeks: Continued use is required to maintain the effect.
• For adult women: Vaniqa is indicated for the treatment of facial hirsutism in women.

Does Vaniqa remove hair permanently?

No. Vaniqa does not permanently remove facial hair. It slows the rate at which hair grows while treatment is continued. If you stop using it, hair growth may return towards its previous level within around 8 weeks.

What if Vaniqa does not seem to be working?

Some improvement may be noticeable from around 8 weeks after starting treatment. If you have not noticed any benefit after 4 months of regular use, treatment should be stopped.

Can I use Vaniqa during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Do not use Vaniqa if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, use an alternative method of managing facial hair.

Can Vaniqa be used by men?

Vaniqa is indicated for the treatment of facial hirsutism in women.

Our service does not include a prescription. Instead, your treatment is supplied under a legal framework known as a Patient Group Direction (PGD). The process follows these steps:

1. Complete a health questionnaire

Provide detailed information about your health, medical history, and previous symptoms management efforts.

2. Pharmacist review

A pharmacist will review your responses and may contact you by phone or video call if further information is required to support safe supply.

3. Private consultation

All interactions are confidential. This provides an opportunity to discuss any questions and ensure appropriate use of the treatment.

4. Identity verification

You may be asked to provide identification to confirm that you are the intended user. This is typically required for your first order only.

5. Supporting evidence

You may be asked to provide relevant information, such as confirmation of symptoms and medical history, to support safe supply.

Your GP will be notified of your request and the outcome of the supply decision, whether the treatment is supplied or not, to support continuity of care.

Purchasing this medication does not guarantee supply. The decision to supply is made by the pharmacist based on the information provided. If supply is not appropriate, your order will be refunded.

Main ingredient: Eflornithine 115 mg per gram of cream, as eflornithine hydrochloride monohydrate.

Excipients: cetostearyl alcohol, macrogol cetostearyl ether, dimeticone, glyceryl stearate, macrogol stearate, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), liquid paraffin, phenoxyethanol, propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), purified water, stearyl alcohol, sodium hydroxide (E524) to adjust pH.

1. Apply a thin layer of Vaniqa to clean, dry skin on the affected areas of the face and under the chin twice daily, leaving at least 8 hours between applications.
2. Rub the cream in thoroughly until no visible residue remains.
3. If you shave, pluck or use another hair removal method, wait at least 5 minutes afterwards before applying Vaniqa.
4. Avoid contact with the eyes, inside the nose or mouth, and other mucous membranes. If accidental contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water.
5. Do not wash the treated area for at least 4 hours after applying the cream.
6. Wash your hands after applying Vaniqa.
7. Wait at least 5 minutes after applying Vaniqa before applying make-up, sunscreen or other cosmetics to the treated area.
8. If skin irritation develops, you may need to reduce application to once daily temporarily. If irritation continues, stop using the cream and seek medical advice.
9. Discard the tube 6 months after first opening.

Do not use this medicine if

• You are allergic to eflornithine or any other ingredient in Vaniqa.
• You are pregnant.
• You are breastfeeding.

Speak to your doctor before use

Tell your doctor or pharmacist:

• If you have any medical problems, particularly kidney or liver problems.
• If you have polycystic ovary syndrome.
• If you have, or may have, a hormone-producing tumour.
• If you are unsure whether Vaniqa is suitable for you.

The safety and effectiveness of Vaniqa have not been established in women with liver or kidney impairment. Particular caution is required in severe kidney impairment.

Skin irritation and application precautions

• Vaniqa is for use on the skin only.
• Do not apply it to cut, broken or irritated skin.
• Avoid contact with the eyes and the inside of the nose or mouth.
• Rinse thoroughly with water if accidental contact occurs.
• If irritation develops, reduce use temporarily to once daily.
• If irritation continues, stop using Vaniqa and contact your doctor.

Cetostearyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol may cause local skin reactions, including contact dermatitis.

Methyl parahydroxybenzoate and propyl parahydroxybenzoate may cause allergic reactions, which may be delayed.

Age restrictions

Vaniqa is not recommended for anyone younger than 19 years. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.

Pregnancy

Do not use Vaniqa if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Use an alternative method of managing facial hair.

Breastfeeding

Do not use Vaniqa while breastfeeding. It is not known whether eflornithine or its breakdown products pass into breast milk.

Interactions with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking, have recently taken or may take, including non-prescription medicines.

Speak to your doctor before applying another medicine to the same areas of skin as Vaniqa.

Tell your doctor if you take medicines that may stimulate hair growth, including:

• Cyclosporine.
• Glucocorticoids.
• Minoxidil.
• Phenobarbitone.
• Phenytoin.
• Hormone replacement therapy with male hormone-like effects.

No formal interaction studies have been performed.

Driving and using machines

Vaniqa is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Overdose

Applying too much cream to the skin is unlikely to cause harm.

If Vaniqa is accidentally swallowed, contact a doctor immediately. Stop using the medicine if symptoms associated with overdose occur.

Like all medicines, Vaniqa can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most reported side effects affect the skin where the cream is applied.

Very common, affecting more than 1 in 10 people:

• Acne.

Common, affecting up to 1 in 10 people:

• Inflammation around the hair follicle.
• Hair loss.
• Stinging or burning of the skin.
• Dry skin.
• Itching.
• Redness.
• Tingling.
• Rash.
• Skin irritation associated with shaving.

Uncommon, affecting up to 1 in 100 people:

• Ingrowing hairs.
• Facial swelling.
• Dermatitis.
• Eczema.
• Cold sores.
• Other local skin reactions.

Rare, affecting up to 1 in 1,000 people:

• Skin cysts.
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis.
• Other unusual skin changes.

If you develop significant swelling, a severe skin reaction or any other symptoms that concern you, stop using the medicine and seek medical advice.