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PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Facial Hair - Vaniqa Cream
Your Pharmacist can supply Vaniqa cream to treat hair growth on the top
lip and under the chin.
Vaniqa is NOT a hair-remover. Vaniqa cream slows down new hair growth
after existing hair has been removed.
Vaniqa cream is well suited to being used together with hair-removal
products and procedures and with prescription medications from doctors
to reduce hair growth.
Vaniqa cream is a prescription medication which your Pharmacist is able to
supply without a prescription. Before your Pharmacist can supply Vaniqa
you will be asked if you have previously seen a doctor about facial hair.
Before Vaniqa Treatment
It is always necessary to see a doctor about increased facial hair. Your
doctor may want to carry out tests and may prescribe regular medication
to reduce facial hair growth.
How effective is Vaniqa?
In studies seven out of ten women who use Vaniqa cream for six months
show improvement. This compares with four out of ten who use a dummy
cream. About three out of ten women have marked improvement or better
after six months. Approximately three out of ten women using Vaniqa do
not show improvement.
Vaniqa is a long-term treatment. Treatment may take up to four months
to work, although improvement may start after eight weeks. If there is no
improvement after four months, Vaniqa should be stopped.
Once Vaniqa is stopped its effects wear-off. Eight weeks after stopping,
Vaniqa cream will no longer be having an effect.
Side-effects
Women who have not previously seen a doctor or women who require
advice about facial hair should consult a doctor before obtaining Vaniqa.
Your pharmacist can provide a letter for your doctor.
As with any medication, Vaniqa can cause side-effects. Most women do
not have these side-effects and where they do occur they are usually mild.
Acne may occur, although this is no more frequent with Vaniqa than with
other creams. Burning, stinging, tingling, and rash and redness occur more
frequently with Vaniqa than with non-active creams.
Causes of Facial Hair
Further information
Some women who are troubled by hair on their top lips and under the
chin have a condition called polycystic ovaries (PCO). There may also be
irregular periods, trouble with weight gain, and acne. There are effective
prescription medications for the treatment of PCO available from doctors.
A doctor should always be consulted where facial hair is a problem. See
the NHS Choices website and the Unwanted Facial Hair website.
Facial hair tends to increase after the menopause. Medical treatments for
post-menopausal hair growth are available on prescription from doctors.
Some oral contraceptive pills contain ingredients which help reduce facial
hair growth. Your doctor will be able to advise you.
You MUST read the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet supplied
with Vaniqa.
Increased facial hair sometimes just runs in families. Southern European
and South Asian women tend to be more affected. Prescription
medications tend to be less effective for this type of facial hair, which may
respond to Vaniqa.
In some rare cases increased facial hair is caused by over-active adrenal
glands or an under-active thyroid gland. In some very rare cases tumours
can produce hormones which lead to increased hair growth. In other rare
cases some prescription medications can cause excessive hair growth. If a
medication is the cause of hair growth, this will be listed in its side-effects.
• www.nhs.uk/conditions/hirsutism
• www.unwantedfacialhair.co.uk
SPECIMEN ONLY
It is an offence and invalidates pharmacy
insurance to use PGDs without valid rights.
Annual training and payment is required for
our PGDs to be valid.
If increased facial hair comes on rapidly over a few months, starts before
puberty or occurs in unusual parts of the body, medical investigation is
almost certainly required.
Emotional Distress
Women with increased facial hair are often self-conscious. They may
be stressed, anxious and even depressed. It is important to seek help
for emotional distress and not to suffer in silence. Tell your doctor if the
problem is getting you down.
How it Works
Vaniqa cream contains the active ingredient eflornithine. Vaniqa is applied
to the top lip area and under the chin twice daily and is rubbed-in. A small
amount of the active ingredient penetrates to the base of hair follicles
where it blocks enzymes and slows down new hair growth.
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www.pharmacypgd.co.uk
How to use Vaniqa
Vaniqa cream supports hair-removal treatments such as, shaving, laser,
electrolysis, plucking or depilatory (hair-remover) applications. After hair
has been removed with any of these techniques Vaniqa will help to reduce
hair growing back. Vaniqa is not itself a hair-remover. Effective hair-removal
treatments should be continued whilst using Vaniqa.
Patient Survey
Do NOT stop any prescribed medication from your doctor when you use
Vaniqa. Vaniqa can be used at the same time.
Visit www.pharmacypgd.co.uk/survey
or scan the QR code with your
smartphone.
Vaniqa is for use only in the top lip area and under the chin. Applied twice
daily a 30 gram tube will normally last about one month.
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