Feedback on Vaniqa Side Effect and Usage, page 10
About Vaniqa
If you use Vaniqa, please help others by sharing your experience with side effects. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.
How do you get rid of hair?
Date: 3/25/2011
I just started the product this evening. How depressing to have brown spots on face and then to see black hairs growing. The person who waxes my brows and lip said if she did the sides of my face they will grow back thick and dark and I will have to keep waxing and waxing. How do you get rid of the hairs? I see the product say it does not get rid of them.
Susan
AskDocWeb: You are correct, Vaniqa slows or stops the growth of hair but it does not get rid of the hair you already have. The directions say that you’ll need to continue your routine method of hair removal while using this medicine. Here are some of the pros and cons of the options that others have tried:
- Shaving with a razor:
- Pro: quick, inexpensive, and unless you cut yourself, painless
- Con: hair may grow back thicker on some skin (not all)
- Electrolysis:
- Pro: permanent, hair does not grow back
- Con: painful, long process because only 1 hair is removed at a time
- Bleaching:
- Pro: makes hair less visible, painless
- Con: hair is still visible
- Waxing:
- Pro: quick, lasts for weeks
- Con: painful
- Sugaring:
- Pro: quick, lasts for weeks
- Con: still painful but less than waxing
- Laser:
- Pro: Results range from 2 years to permanent
- Con: expensive, may require 3 to 6 treatments, hyperpigmentation may occur on darker skin
- Depilatory:
- Pro: once a week
- Con: chemical burns, hair grows back after burn heals
- Threading:
- Pro: Good for shaping, fast, lasts about 2 weeks
- Con: less painful than waxing, requires regular treatments
- Buffer:
- Pro: quick, inexpensive, painless
- Con: may produce morning-after razor burn
- Tweezing or Plucking:
- Pro: inexpensive, long lasting results
- Con: time consuming
Note: Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) is one of the symptoms of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), which may show up on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, toes or other areas of the body. Although there is no cure for PCOS, it can be managed to prevent problems. One treatment is with Aldactone.
Does Vaniqa work on light peach fuzz?
Date: 4/3/2011
I am planning on returning a regime of vaniqua, I believe I may have stopped the use way to early. only used about 2-3 months, my question for stopping was I have very lite peach fuzz, does the product work for very lite non stubble fuzz. It has been suggested that the product only works on dark hair, please advise, thank you.
Susan
AskDocWeb: The growth inhibiting action of Vaniqa works on all types of hair from fine through course. The color of hair has not been shown to make any difference.
Vaniqa with other medications?
Date: 4/14/2011
I started using Vaniqa a few days ago, after being diagnosed with PCOS. First off, it cost $77 and the pharmacist said there is a generic option, but that its not available in the US. I have already started noticing the acne worsening around the area that I apply it, and was wondering if I could put acne medication (spot treatment) over the Vaniqa, or would it only make it more irritated? Thanks.
Erin
AskDocWeb: The patient information for Vaniqa says to speak to your doctor before using any other medicines on the areas of skin where you are using Vaniqa. The treatment options for acne vary greatly to suit different types of skin and conditions. What may work well for one individual may cause excessive irritation for someone else.
Vaniqa instead of plucking?
Date: 4/22/2011
Can I use Vaniqa on my eyebrows, instead of plucking?
Laura
AskDocWeb: Vaniqa does not take the place of a hair removal method. It does not remove hair like a depilatory so you’ll need to continue your routine method of hair removal while using this medicine.
Vaniqa in South Africa?
Date: 8/3/2011
I had facial hair all of my life; I live in South Africa where can I get vaniqa? I really don’t mind all the side effect as long as my facial hair can be gone.
Adelaide
AskDocWeb: In order to find out if Vaniqa is available locally, contact your local drugstore or pharmacy. They will be able to tell you if they have it stock or if they can order it.
Treatments that work
Date: 8/24/2011
Hi well what treatment does work if vaniqa does not work?
Diana
AskDocWeb: Okay, here’s the list again: Shaving, Tweezing, Plucking, Electrolysis, Waxing, Threading, Buffer, Depilatory, and Laser treatments. There is also a new product called Hair Removal Plus. They say it’s safe for use anywhere on the body.
Long-term effects of Vaniqa (7 years)
Date: 8/30/2011
I have used Vaniqa twice daily since June, 2004. I am interested in what the research shows in the long-term effects of Vaniqa on inhibiting hair growth. I am noticing that Vaniqa is slightly, yet progressively, less effective the longer I use it.
Debbie
AskDocWeb: Thanks Debbie! It’s helpful to hear reports from long-term users like yourself. Once a drug is on the market there is little incentive to continue research. Often forums like this one are the only source of comments from long term users.
Vaniqa and hair loss on the head
Date: 9/1/2011
The pharmacy info that comes with the product does NOT tell you that one of the side effects is hair loss on the head. Pay close attention to your scalp. If you start seeing more scalp than you used to stop using the product. After 2 months of using vaniqua my scalp started turning bright red in areas and it felt like someone was standing over me trying to lift me off of the ground by my hair. I am still having this pain after one month of not using Vaniqa. I am also now seeing a dermo who has prescribed liquid steriods to stop the pain, redness and hopefully start the growth again. Just as horrible the hair on my head has stopped growing. It’s not falling out other than the usual 50 to 100 hairs a day. But my body is no longer replacing those 50-100 hairs in the hair growth cycle. Pay close attention to your scalp. Had one of the risks said hair loss on the head I would never have used the product. Hopefully after this stuff gets out of my system the hair will grow back.
Einstein
Loss of scalp hair
Date: 9/15/2011
BEWARE–I used Vaniqa for 2 months. No difference in facial hair but about 1/2 of my scalp hair has fallen out and continues to 2 months after discontinuing. Is there any antidote?
Page
AskDocWeb: Sorry Page, there doesn’t seem to be an antidote for Vaniqa. Have you been checked for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? You may need to see an endocrinologist to get diagnosed for a specific cause. If your hair loss is due to PCOS, it’s important to start treatment as early as possible.
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