Vaniqa cream, the first topical prescription for women with unwanted facial hair, came on the personal care scene in the year 2000 after exhaustive testing and clinical trials to meet with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval.

This list of answers to frequently asked questions will help you decide whether it is an option you may want to consider:

Just exactly what is Vaniqa cream?

Vaniqa is the brand name for a cream containing 139mg/g of eflornithine hydrochloride. It took the name "eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9%" and was sold under the brand name - Vaniqa.

Interestingly it was noticed by accident that the side effects of this drug, originally intended as a medication for cancer and later used for African sleeping sickness, was hair loss.

The pharmaceutical companies involved were able to develop this drug into Vaniqa cream which can interrupt hair growth.

How is Vaniqa cream used?

Vaniqa cream should be applied to the skin twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening for example. Simply massage it into the area you want to treat such as the upper lip, beneath the chin or other facial area.

Wait for the cream to dry before applying any cosmetic preparations to the skin.

What does Vaniqa cream do?

This topical preparation affects the mechanism of hair growth in the hair follicle. It must be clearly understood before purchasing Vaniqa cream that it is NOT a hair removal cream. Those are called depilatories.

Vaniqa cream is a hair growth retardant. It slows hair growth, reduces it, thus making hair removal sessions using waxing, sugaring, tweezing, and threading easier and less frequent.

When will I see results?

This varies from person to person but many women see a difference in hair growth after 6-8 weeks if they use the cream twice a day. Persistence and patience is needed. Six months is a reasonable time to give it a fair chance.

Are they any side effects?

Vaniqa cream is only available on prescription but the fact it has been FDA approved indicates it has passed vigorous safety tests and clinical trials.

The only side effects reported were irritation on the skin, a little swelling or redness, on the part of just a few who participated in the tests.

What is the success rate?

In the clinical trials, around 58% of the women who used Vaniqa cream reported a decrease in hair growth. This means a fairly large proportion did not see a difference. Hence, Vaniqa may not work for everyone. The idea is to try it and see for yourself as each individual is different in the way they respond to medications.

Are there any limitations with Vaniqa cream?

Vaniqa cream is intended only for women. Also young females under 12 years of age should not use it.

Pregnant or nursing women should exercise caution and consult with a medical practitioner before using Vaniqa cream as there is insufficient data available regarding the effects of this drug on this section of the population.

To summarize: For women concerned about unwanted facial hair, Vaniqa cream could be just what they are looking for. If they prefer to do their own hair removal sessions at home using tweezers, or waxing and sugaring pastes and strips, Vaniqa cream is an ideal complement as it reduces actual hair growth.

In view of the stringent testing and minimal side effects, it could be worth experimenting to see if you are in the 58% it works for.

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