Eflornithine
Eflornithine 13.9% cream, sold as Vaniqa tubes, slows the growth of unwanted facial hair in women and is applied to the chin and upper lip twice a day.
Eflornithine cream for chin and upper-lip hair
Picture dark, coarse hairs on the chin and upper lip that are back a day or two after shaving. Eflornithine cream is made for that problem in women. It does nothing to hairs already on the surface, which still need shaving, plucking or waxing; it acts on the next growth, which arrives more slowly.
The hair it targets is the male-pattern kind, whether it runs in the family or followed a hormonal change.
What eflornithine does in the follicle
Growing hair depends on an enzyme called ornithine decarboxylase, which lets its cells divide fast. Eflornithine switches that enzyme off where the cream is spread. With less of it working, hairs lengthen more slowly and regrow finer and lighter.
It acts on growth rather than on hairs already above the skin, so the change builds over weeks instead of showing after one use. It is not a hormone, and very little of it reaches the rest of the body.
Applying it, and what to expect
Spread a thin layer over the chin, upper lip or other affected areas of the face every morning and evening, leaving at least eight hours between the two. Rub it in until it disappears; make-up can go on once it has dried.
Keep it to the face, not the scalp, legs or chest, and away from the eyes, nose and mouth. Wash your hands after each application. Judge it after a few weeks of daily use rather than a few days.
Side effects
Problems, when they happen, show on the treated skin: acne, itching, stinging or tingling, redness and dryness, and now and then a rash or an inflamed hair root. Most of it is mild and fades as the skin gets used to the cream.
If the lips or throat start to swell, or breathing becomes laboured, treat it as an emergency; that points to an allergy to the cream.
The Vaniqa listing in the shop
The shop's eflornithine listing is Vaniqa, the branded cream, supplied in 13.9% tubes. That figure is the eflornithine content, and it is the strength the cream is made in. You will find it under skin care and women's health.
Sources
- Eflornithine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Information for the user Vaniqa 11.5% cream — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Is Eflornithine available to order in Hong Kong?
Eflornithine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Vaniqa, also sold as Eflornithine tubes, as 13.9% tubes. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or turns up damaged, it is sent again free, and where that is not possible the order is refunded.
What is the price of Eflornithine?
Prices vary between pack sizes. The product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Eflornithine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order eflornithine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for eflornithine?
Vaniqa is a brand name of eflornithine, which is also sold as Eflora. Here, eflornithine can be bought online as generic Vaniqa. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Vaniqa the same as eflornithine?
Yes. Vaniqa is simply the brand name of eflornithine 13.9% cream. In the shop it appears as Vaniqa, in tubes, and a search for either name leads to that one page.
How long does eflornithine cream take to work?
Expect four to eight weeks of twice-daily use before the hair grows in noticeably slower and finer, with further improvement while you carry on. If four months have gone by with no change, the cream has probably not worked for you and is normally dropped.
What happens when I stop using eflornithine?
Hair growth goes back to the way it was before, usually within about two months. The cream slows the growth cycle while it is in use rather than changing the follicle permanently, so continuing to apply it is what keeps the effect going.
Can I wear makeup over eflornithine cream?
Yes, once the cream has dried. Apply eflornithine first, let it sink in, then use your usual makeup on top. There is no need to keep cosmetics off the treated areas while you are using it.
What does 13.9% mean on an eflornithine cream?
It is the proportion of eflornithine in the cream, measured by weight. Creams are described this way rather than in milligrams because the figure is a percentage of what is in the tube, so 13.9% tells you how much of what you spread on is the active ingredient.