Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected areas of your face and under your chin twice a day. Leave at least 8 hours between applications.

Start with clean, dry skin. Rub the cream in well until you can no longer see it. Do not wash the treated area for at least 4 hours afterwards.

If you have just shaved, plucked, or used another hair removal method, wait at least 5 minutes before applying Vaniqa.

If you want to apply makeup or sunscreen to the same area, wait at least 5 minutes after putting the cream on.

Keep the cream away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. If it gets into any of these, rinse well with water.

If the cream stings or burns, cut back to once a day until the irritation settles. If it does not settle, speak with our clinician.

If you see no improvement after 4 months of regular use, stop the cream and contact our clinician. The treatment is not working for you and a different approach may be needed.

Each gram of Vaniqa cream contains 115mg of eflornithine (as hydrochloride monohydrate). Eflornithine blocks the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, which plays a key role in hair production inside the follicle. By shutting this enzyme down, hair growth slows and the hair that does grow comes through finer and lighter.

Other ingredients include cetostearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, dimeticone, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), phenoxyethanol, and purified water. The cream contains cetostearyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, which may cause skin irritation in some people. The parabens (E218 and E216) may cause allergic reactions in rare cases.

Vaniqa is made by Almirall. It comes in tubes of 15g, 30g, and 60g.

Side effects are usually limited to the skin and tend to be mild. The most common include acne, skin rash, stinging or burning at the application site, dry skin, tingling, redness, and ingrown hairs. These normally settle without needing to stop the cream.

Less common side effects include soreness, swelling, irritated skin, dermatitis, numbness, and bleeding skin (for example from irritated spots). Speak with our clinician if any side effect bothers you or does not go away.

Serious allergic reactions are rare. If you notice sudden swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or you develop difficulty breathing, stop using the cream and get medical help straight away.

Who should not use it

Do not use Vaniqa if you are allergic to eflornithine or any of the other ingredients. It is not recommended for anyone under 18. If you have kidney or liver problems, tell our clinician before starting, as they may need to monitor you more closely.

Can you use it during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Do not use Vaniqa if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Use a different method to manage your facial hair during this time.

Other medicines

There are no known significant interactions with other medicines. But if you use other creams or treatments on your face, let our clinician know so they can advise on the best routine.

How long does it take to work?

Give it time. Most women notice a difference within 8 weeks, but it can take longer. Continued use brings further improvement. If nothing has changed after 4 months, the cream is unlikely to help you and you should stop.

Vaniqa is not right for everyone, and there are things you should know before you start. Here is all the official information. If anything is not clear, let our clinician know and they can talk it through with you.

Vaniqa 11.5% Cream PIL