The FDA recently approved VANIQA (eflornithine hydrochloride) Cream for the treatment of unwanted facial hair in women. It is available by prescription only and should be at your pharmacy soon.

A thin layer of the cream is applied to the affected areas twice daily and the user is instructed not to wash the treated area for at least 4 hours. According to the literature supplied by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company the manufacturer, approximately 32%, of patients showed marked improvement, or greater after 24 weeks of treatment withVANIQA.

Possible side effects include temporary redness, burning, stinging, tingling, or rash.