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Hairchick.com - Vaniqa
The real way to slow hair growth - Vaniqa
Have you noticed that most hair removal methods give a range when estimating how long results will last? Depilatories last anywhere from a week to three weeks or a month. Shaving lasts from a day (or less!) to a week. Of course, these estimates reflect the fact that women's hair grows at different rates. Still, you may be frustrated if you are always finding that your hair crops up as soon as possible after shaving or waxing. If so, you will be excited to know that the FDA has approved the use of the drug Vaniqa as an effective and safe method of slowing hair growth.
Vaniqa is through prescription only, meaning that you have to visit your dermatologist or doctor if you want to try this new treatment. A responsible doctor or dermatologist will explain how Vaniqa works and will talk with you to determine whether Vaniqa will really work for you. Since it is a powerful agent, Vaniqa is usually not prescribed to just anyone who wants to slow hair growth. Why? As with any drug, there are side effects and risks to consider, after all. Vaniqa is also expensive and works only in conjunction with other hair removal methods (meaning you will have to keep paying for whatever methods you use now). It is also not covered by many health insurance policies, meaning it probably only makes sense if you have excessive or very fast growing hair that is difficult to get rid of.
Vaniqa contains eflornithine hydrochloride, which delays cell functions that are responsible for generating growth in hairs. If you and your doctor do decide that Vaniqa is for you, you will have to buy the product and then spread it on the skin after regular hair removal methods. After about two months of continued use, you will notice that your hair grows back more slowly. Hair growth will not stop completely, so you will still have to continue to use hair removal methods. Usually, Vaniqa is applied daily (twice a day) and must be applied for as long as you want to halt hair growth. This means that if for any reason you discontinue treatment, you will find your hair starts to grow back at normal rates again.
At this time, it can only be used for facial hair, although Hairchick believes that eventually Vaniqa or some drug like it will be made available for other parts of the body.
Vaniqa may cause skin irritation and should not be used by pregnant women. If you use depilatories or hair removal creams on your face you may also want to give Vaniqa a pass, since the two chemicals together may prove very irritating for skin.
Generally, because of the risks and the bother of getting Vaniqa, Hairchick recommends this product only to women who suffer from hirsutism, or from hair that grows back unusually fast. For these women, Vaniqa can be a great help. For the rest of us, long-lasting hair removal treatments such as plucking or waxing make more sense (even if they are a pain sometimes).