VANIQA (EFLORNITHINE)

Vaniqa Description

Hormonal changes that may result in hair on your upper lip, jaw line, or under your chin should not stop you from enjoying the mature years. Talk to your doctor about a prescription to buy Vaniqa or generic Eflornithine, a topical medication that is applied twice daily to the areas affected by the hair growth. Vaniqa will not remove the unwanted hair permanently or stop further growth; it reduces the rate of the hair growth while you continue to wax, pluck, thread, shave or whatever treatment you have chosen. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

What Can Vaniqa Do for Unwanted Facial Hair?

Hair follicles undergo fast growth and maturation as they change into hairs. Polyamines are a type of protein that is necessary for this to happen and the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme is needed to help this process along. Once applied to the areas of unwanted hair, the active ingredient in Vaniqa blocks the activity of ODC. Be patient when using Vaniqa as it could take up to two months before you notice a change in the growth of your facial hair.

Conditions Treated by Vaniqa

After menopause, your body believes that you no longer need a lot of hormones because your child-bearing years are over. Both men and women have estrogen and testosterone hormones; when menopause occurs, estrogen levels drop while your body will still produces small amounts of testosterone for several years. The imbalance of hormones can trigger a change of the fuzzy facial hair into more defined coarse hair.

If you find that you are sprouting a lot of these hairs and appear to have sideburns or a mustache forming, see your doctor to rule out other medical reasons for such hair growth, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Women with hirsutism can also benefit from the effects of Vaniqa. This is the unnatural growth of hair on women, including on their chest and back. Vaniqa can slow the hair growth while you undergo other means to reduce the hair growth.

Before Vaniqa is Prescribed

Ask your doctor if there are any risks associated with using Vaniqa while you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or are breast feeding. To determine if Vaniqa is safe for you, tell your doctor about other medical conditions or allergies you have and provide a list of any OTC medications or Rx drugs you currently take or use, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements.

You may find that certain birth control pills or patches can also help to reduce facial hair growth, as well as other symptoms of menopause, due to the restoration of hormone levels that dwindle as you age. Talk to your doctor about which ones can be recommended.

Vaniqa Precautions

Vaniqa is only to be applied externally on the affected areas of your skin. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after applying Vaniqa to avoid rubbing it into your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you discontinue using Vaniqa, the hairs will return to being coarse and more noticeable. Keep out of the reach of children and pets and do not share any medications with others.

Possible Side Effects of Vaniqa

• Acne
• Rash
• Headache
• Stinging sensation after applying