Vaniqa cream

Vaniqa cream (eflornithine 11.5%) for unwanted female facial hair (hirsutism) available to buy online from Dr Fox.

  • Applied twice daily
  • Clinically proven to be effective
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Buy Vaniqa cream online in UK

How to order Vaniqa cream online for UK delivery:

  1. Read medical information about female facial hair
  2. Answer medical questions to check for eligibility
  3. Reviewed by doctors - posted from UK pharmacy (tracked 24hr service)

Prices

Medication Quantity Cost
Vaniqa cream (60 gram tube) x1 (2 months) £66.90
Vaniqa cream (60 gram tube) x2 (4 months) £129.20
Vaniqa cream (60 gram tube) x3 (6 months) £192.40
Vaniqa cream (60 gram tube) x3 (6 months) £257.60

Price match guarantee
Prescription issued online - small prescription fee per order.

Compare prices: Dr Fox prices are 25%-50% lower cost than other online clinics.

Prescription fees

Dr Fox supplies medicine on prescription and charges a small prescription fee based on the order value of each prescription.

Prescriptions are issued by our doctors online and sent electronically to our pharmacy.

Order value Prescription fee
up to £10 £1.00
up to £20 £2.00
up to £40 £3.00
over £40 £4.00

If you have your own private paper prescription please post to our pharmacy (details).

Dr Fox prices are 25%–50% lower than other UK online clinics.

*Dr Fox adds a small prescription fee not included in table above.
Comparative costs of Vaniqa cream from UK online clinics (10 November 2021) - qualifying notes
  1. The prices shown are listed by the online clinics named after a customer first enters consultation information and is offered prescriptions. It is possible these clinics may have special offers or lower prices for repeat supplies.
  2. Prices may change and are, to the best of our knowledge, accurate on the date stated. All products in stock and new condition.
  3. Dr Fox does NOT claim to provide a superior service to any of the online clinics listed. All the clinics listed, as far as we can tell, comply with all regulation and, as far as we can tell, operate to high ethical standards.
  4. Dr Fox adds a small prescription fee not included in the table (between £1 and £4 depending on value of the order).
  5. To amend the information in this table please contact us
  6. The prices listed in the table do not identify the cost of prescription medicine as online clinics charge a single fee to cover services which includes advice, consultations, prescriptions and dispensing and supply of treatments.
  7. Where services include free delivery this is using the slowest delivery option available. Dr Fox uses Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Vaniqa (eflornithine 11.5%) Dr Fox* Lloyds Superdrug Independent Pharmacy
60 gram tube x 1 (2 months) £66.90 £80.50 £90.00 £79.99
UK delivery £2.90 included included included

Delivery charges

UK delivery only: £2.90 per consultation via Royal Mail Tracked 24 Signed For (1-2 working days with tracking).

Parcel forwarding services are not permitted. Use only UK home or work delivery address.

Returns and refunds - unwanted items can be returned within 14 working days for a full refund.

Start order

About Vaniqa cream

  • Vaniqa (eflornithine 11.5%) is a prescription-only cream used to treat excess female facial hair (hirsutism) in adult women.
  • Non-hormone twice daily treatment to reduce hair growth.
  • Reduces the need for hair removal treatments.
  • Read the patient leaflet for a full list of side effects, cautions, and interactions with other drugs.

How does Vaniqa work?

Vaniqa is not a hair remover, but works by reducing new hair growth and regrowth. Vaniqa works at the level of hair follicles by reducing the activity of an enzyme (ornithine decarboxylase) involved in hair growth.

What causes female facial hair?

All women have some male hormone (androgen) as well as female hormone (oestrogen) in their system. Female facial hair or hirsutism in women is caused by an androgen effect on hair follicles either by too much circulating male hormone or by an increased hormone sensitivity in the hair follicles themselves. Hirsutism may be a family trait. It is more often found in women of South Asian and Southern European ethnicity.

It can also be caused by medical conditions, most commonly Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but also other rare hormone conditions or tumours. Increased facial hair can be a result of hormone changes at the menopause. It can also be a rare side effect of some prescription medicines.

It is important that women who are considering using Vaniqa for facial hair have first consulted with their own GP who may choose to arrange blood tests to check for medical causes. An underlying medical condition is more likely in the following cases:

  • Hirsutism has developed quickly over the previous few months or years,
  • Associated menstrual problems as well,
  • Other male hormone effects such as thinning hair over the scalp, balding, or deepening of the voice,
  • Associated obesity or diabetes.

Prescription medicines associated with hirsutism include cyclosporin, minoxidil, steroids, and carbamazepine.

For further information please see British Association of Dermatologists - Hirsutism and - Excessive hair growth (hirsutism).

Who will benefit from Vaniqa?

Vaniqa can be used by all women over 18 who are troubled by excessive facial hair growth. It does not work for hair in other parts of the body.

In the drug trials 70% of women saw improvement after 24 weeks use.

Who is not suitable to use Vaniqa

The Dr Fox online consultation carries out checks for suitability. If you have severe kidney or liver disease, the manufacturers recommend that you discuss with your doctor before using Vaniqa, although there are no documented problems.

Skin preparations which may irritate the skin, like some acne treatments, should not usually be used at the same time as Vaniqa - discuss with your GP.

How to use Vaniqa

  • For use on the face and chin only.
  • Wait at least 5 minutes after removing hair (e.g. shaving, plucking, waxing), before applying Vaniqa.
  • Vaniqa cream can cause burning or stinging if applied to cut or irritated skin.
  • Apply a small pea-sized amount of cream twice daily to clean, dry skin and rub it in until no longer visible.
  • Use only on affected area, usually the chin and upper lip.
  • Avoid contact with the mouth, inner nose, and eyes.
  • Wash hands after applying the cream.
  • Leave at least 8 hours between applications. If irritation occurs, reduce application to once daily. Consult a doctor if irritation persists.
  • Wait at least 5 mins for Vaniqa to dry, before applying makeup and other skin applications.
  • Leave the cream on for at least 4 hours.

If a substantial amount of Vaniqa is accidentally swallowed, consult a doctor or use the NHS 111 service.

How effective is Vaniqa?

Vaniqa does not remove existing hair. It slows down new growth and regrowth. Hair removal, for example by plucking or shaving, should be continued.

It can take up to 8 weeks for results. If after 4 months there is no improvement, Vaniqa should be stopped and a doctor consulted.

Vaniqa's effects wear off after 8 weeks of stopping treatment. To maintain the effect, Vaniqa must be used continuously.

Side effects of Vaniqa

Side effects, if they occur, usually only affect the skin at the site where the cream is applied, and usually settle once treatment is discontinued.

The most common side effect, in up to 1 in 10 women, is acne. Also common, in up to 1 in 100 are: dry skin, hair loss, inflammation, itching, rash, redness, and stinging and tingling. Other side effects are less common.

A full list can be found in the manufacturer's Patient Information Leaflet.

Do any drugs/medicines interfere with Vaniqa?

No drug interaction studies have been undertaken, so this is unknown. However as Vaniqa is a local treatment and only small amounts are absorbed into the body, drug interactions are very unlikely. Vaniqa will not affect your contraception.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not use Vaniqa if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Alternative treatments should be used.

Other treatments for unwanted female facial hair

Vaniqa is the only cream with a direct action that reduces growth of unwanted female facial hair. It is only manufactured by Almirall and there is no cheaper generic alternative available.

As female facial hair is usually linked with excess male hormone (androgen), most other treatments work by reducing the amount of androgen activity in the body.

The simplest way to do this, is to take the combined contraceptive pill and, before the menopause, that is often a good choice which can also be used alongside Vaniqa. Two specific anti-androgen, combined contraceptive pills - Dianette containing cyproterone acetate or Yasmin containing drospirinone - can be used, but they have a greater risk of thrombosis (blood clots) than other combined hormonal contraceptives. In extreme cases, endocrinologists may prescribe androgen blockers.

In obese women, significant weight loss will reduce the levels of androgens and can therefore help to reduce unwanted facial hair.

How else to manage facial hair

  • Shaving.
  • Waxing.
  • Depilatory cream which dissolves the hair shaft.
  • Bleaching, but risks also bleaching underlying skin.

Permanent hair removal

Electrolysis, Laser, and Intense pulsed light (IPL) are all methods of permanently destroying the hair follicle and stopping hair growth. They are not usually provided on the NHS. It is important to use a fully registered practitioner. Potential side effects can include scarring.

Patient Information Leaflet

Illustration of patient leaflet from medicine packet

The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine and must be read before taking the medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine.

Vaniqa patient leaflet


Vaniqa FAQs

Can Vaniqa also be used by men?

No. Vaniqa is only for unwanted facial hair in women.

Can you use Vaniqa anywhere - or just on the face and chin?

Vaniqa has only been studied for use on the face and chin. It is not recommended for use elsewhere on the body.

Can you use too much Vaniqa?

Use a thin layer of cream twice a day. Using extra will not give better results and it is expensive so use sparingly!

Can I use Vaniqa long term?

Vaniqa is only effective while you are using it, so it should be considered a long-term treatment. There is no data to suggest that it causes damage when used long term and it has been available in the UK for nearly 20 years.

See also Hirsutism and Vaniqa FAQs.

Dr Tony Steele

Authored 02 April 2016 by Dr Tony Steele
MB ChB Sheffield University 1983. Former hospital doctor and GP. GMC no. 2825328

Reviewed by Dr C. Pugh, Dr A. Wood, Dr B. Babor
Last reviewed 09 November 2021
Last updated 18 March 2024

References

Recent Vaniqa cream reviews

Vaniqa cream rated 4.69/5 in 26 product reviews

See over 40,000 service reviews of Dr Fox

Vaniqa cream

I've been using this cream for two months and I've noticed a reduction in hair already.

30 January 2024
Anonymous Verified

Vaniqa cream

Slows hair growth and amount of hair. No bad reactions

04 January 2024
A. Stokoe Verified

Vaniqa cream

Started working after 5 weeks. Hairs grow thinner and it is way easier to remove them.

02 December 2023
C. Gosselin Verified

Vaniqa cream

Excellent results

16 September 2023
Anonymous Verified

Vaniqa cream

Very very fast delivery. The cream is absolutely amazing. Please note it took me 6 weeks before I even Notice the results This isn't a over night result. I used to have to pluck at least twice a day my chin hairs. But now I barely Even notice a hair Having to only get the tweezers out few times a week. I will definitely carry on with this cream,It has been a absolutely Life changer. I now have so much more confidence.Thankyou DR FOX.

12 August 2023
S. Clarke Verified

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