Eflornithine is prescribed for the reduction of unwanted facial hair in females. A patient using Eflornithine should notice improvement within six months of starting treatment. Your dermatologist will likely ask to discontinue treatment if no results are seen.
What is Eflornithine?
Certain hormonal disorders in females can contribute to the growth of thick or dark facial hair, called hirsutism. Hirsutism can also be an adverse effect of taking certain medications. Unwanted facial hair is a common issue among women, and it can profoundly impact their quality of life. Laser photo epilation has emerged as a main treatment modality for excess facial hair in women. Patient satisfaction with Eflornithine results can increase, but multiple treatments are required.
Lasers are only effective in removing 50 to 90 percent. Furthermore, laser treatment is an extremely expensive option, and while its safety profile is generally favorable, pigmentary changes and other side effects can occur. Eflornithine cream, sold as Eflora cream, is another therapeutic option to reduce unwanted facial hair in women. It happens either due to increased androgenic hormone production, such as testosterone (male sex hormone) or because the skin has become more sensitive to such hormones. When applied to the skin, Eflora cream blocks the activity of an enzyme in hair follicles, which is involved in hair production. It can be used with laser treatment to help reduce the rate of unwanted facial hair growth in women with this issue.
How to use it?
A thin layer of Eflora cream is applied to affected areas twice a day, at least eight hours apart. The topical medication should be rubbed thoroughly, and the treated area should not be washed for at least four hours. The other hair removal methods that the patient is using should be continued with Eflora cream. Sunscreens and other cosmetics can be applied after the topical medication has dried.
How long it takes to reverse hirsutism?
Eflora cream reduces facial hair growth in females, irrespective of the cause of this hair growth. It is not meant to remove the excess hair, but it slows down the excessive hair growth. The hair volume is lessened, making the hair finer and less apparent. The frequency of hair removal with other methods is increased by Eflora cream, and it can be used along with other hair removal techniques, including waxing, shaving, and tweezing. The topical formulation is specifically used to remove facial hair only. However, using this medicated cream extensively in areas other than the facial skin may increase blood levels of the medication and thus the risk of side effects. Hence, Eflora cream should only be applied on the face and under the chin. Some patients significantly improve in 4 to 8 weeks of treatment or longer. It is suggested that treatment be stopped after six months if no visible improvement is seen. Once the treatment is stopped, improvement in hair appearance will be lost in about eight weeks, so ask your doctor for its long-term usage to keep facial hair at bay. White hair that does not respond to Laser can be treated with Eflora cream. Laser therapy is more efficacious than laser treatment alone.
What are the special warnings and precautions?
Patients using Eflornithine should receive the following instructions:
- This formulation should be used in the dose and duration it is prescribed.
- Don’t share this cream with anyone else, even if the person has the same symptoms. Ask them to consult a doctor first to check if they are the right candidate for using this medicine.
- The topical medicine is not a depilatory but rather appears to retard hair growth to improve the condition and the patient’s overall appearance. Patients will likely need to continue using other hair removal methods, including shaving and plucking with Eflora cream.
- In the 24-week research trials, an onset of improvement was seen after as little as 4 to 8 weeks of treatment. The condition may return eight weeks after treatment discontinuation.
- You may be advised to reduce the application if skin irritation or intolerance develops. If irritation continues, the patient should discontinue using this product.
- Inform your doctor if you are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman. He will suggest whether you should use this cream under this condition.
- Inform your doctor about all topical medicines you may be using to avoid drug interactions.
What are the side Effects?
Treatment-associated side effects of Eflornithine include acne, stinging skin, pseudofolliculitis barbae, dryness, headache, burning skin, rash, and folliculitis. A few more reported include facial edema, nausea, anorexia, ingrown hair, contact dermatitis, herpes simplex, rosacea, asthenia, cheilitis, contact dermatitis, and bleeding.
The mild side effects usually resolve without medical treatment or stopping eflornithine hydrochloride. Eflora cream should not be used in patients who are sensitive to any of the formulation’s ingredients.
Conclusion
Eflornithine is safely used with laser hair removal procedures and promotes more rapid hair removal when combined with laser therapy. Patients demonstrate a clear preference for treatment with Eflornithine and Laser. White hair that fails to respond to laser treatment can be treated with Eflora cream. Laser treatment is recommended with this hair removal medication. Consult your dermatologist to understand the treatment you should follow to treat your facial hirsutism.
