A lot of women battle unwanted facial hair, although most would rather you not know it. Some women have this condition due to their ethnic background and others, like me, have a hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Some methods of removing unwanted facial hair are more effective than others, and the costs vary considerably. How does Vaniqa, a topical prescription medication approved for treating unwanted facial hair, compare to other methods of hair removal?
Pros and cons of Vaniqa
I tried Vaniqa several years ago, when it was still a new drug on the market. As expected, the results were slow to develop, but after a few weeks, I did see dramatic reduction in facial hair. Unfortunately, Vaniqa was not covered by my insurance and it cost about $50 for a month’s supply. Although I loved the results, the medication was outside my budget, so I stopped after about three months. The hair returned quickly when I stopped using the cream.
Some reviewers of Vaniqa have complained of extreme acne breakouts, redness and skin irritation, and even temporary hair thinning on the scalp while using the cream. Most reviewers, however, were very satisfied with results. Vaniqa has not been tested with pregnant or breastfeeding women, so if you are thinking of becoming pregnant while using Vaniqa, you should talk with your doctor.
Other at-home treatments
Vaniqa works differently than other at-home treatments for unwanted facial hair. It stops the unwanted hair from growing, while other treatments remove the hair either at the surface or the root. At-home treatments are generally much less expensive, but also require much more time and effort than Vaniqa and give varying results.
Shaving is the most temporary solution, removing hair just at the surface. It is also one of the methods least likely to cause bumps from ingrown hairs, because the roots are undisturbed. Tweezing may be the least expensive method, but also one of the most time consuming. It removes hairs at the root, allowing a longer time between treatments than shaving, but can lead to bumps.
Waxing costs a little more, but gives a smoother finish and may be less painful than plucking because it is over in one shot. Some people with sensitive skin may not be able to tolerate waxing. Threading, which is not necessarily done with a thread but sometimes uses a spring-like device, also removes hair at the root and is much faster than tweezing.
Professional treatments
Professional treatments can be expensive, costing a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. However, the results of some professional treatments are permanent. Electrolysis, which uses an electrical pulse to deaden the follicle, gives long-lasting results, some of which may be permanent. It usually does not cost much to start the treatment, but will require repeated visits and depending on your hair type and amount, it could cost thousands to complete.
Laser hair removal can be even more expensive, but is usually permanent. Because of the way laser treatment works, it is most effective on light skinned people with dark hair. There must be a difference in the color of the targeted hair and the background skin for the laser to work best. Full removal may take repeated treatments over several months.
Vaniqa costs less than either of the professional treatments, at least in the short term, and works well on all skin and hair types. So if you are not a candidate for permanent hair removal, or if it is simply out of your budget, Vaniqa may be a solution worth checking out.
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