Vaniqa: Eflornithine 13.9% Cream

Eflornithine HCl 13.9% cream, marketed as Vaniqa, was the first topical prescription treatment approved by the US FDA for reducing unwanted facial hair in women. It worked by irreversibly inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase, an enzyme crucial for hair growth. Clinical trials showed that the cream slowed facial hair growth in up to 60% of women, with improvements observed over 4-8 weeks or longer. Most adverse reactions were minor skin irritations.