Facial hair removal, your way

There are several different types of hair removal that work in various ways.

Shaving involves using a razor to remove hairs at the skin's surface.

Epilators (electronic tweezing devices) pluck hairs from their root and tend to offer longer-lasting results than shaving.

Waxing is another hair removal technique that involves placing wax coated strips to the skin and quickly removing them to remove hairs at the root.

Laser hair removal works by using intense lights to destroy the hair follicle under the skin and can lead to a noticeable reduction in unwanted hair growth.

Hair removal creams are another treatment option and work in various ways depending on which one is used. Over-the-counter hair removal creams tend to dissolve the hair shaft whereas prescription hair removal creams like Vaniqa use an active ingredient that slows or prevents the hair follicle from producing hair.

Excessive hair growth in women (known as hirsutism) is characterised by visible, thick hairs usually growing on the face, chin and neck area. These hairs can also appear on the back, chest, tummy, thighs, and bottom.

Hirsutism is often related to hormone changes and is a common symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Sometimes though, there is no obvious cause.

In rare instances, excessive hair growth in women can be linked to:

• side effects of certain medicines

• anabolic steroid use

• hormone conditions such as Cushing's syndrome

• pituitary tumours

Vaniqa is a prescription-only treatment for excessive hair growth in women. Like any medicine, it can cause side effects although most people don't experience these.

It may be unsuitable for some people, and you can find more information on the Vaniqa treatment page.

It's important to give as much detail as possible in your consultation so our doctor can ensure Vaniqa cream is the best treatment for you.

Our Online Doctor service is designed to offer you safe, high-quality care that’s both convenient and clinically robust. Depending on the condition you're seeking treatment for and the consultation programme in use, we work in partnership with trusted third-party healthcare providers to deliver the service.

While Pharmacy2U facilitates the process, your consultation and treatment are provided directly by a dedicated team of registered clinicians. This separation ensures that prescribing decisions are made independently and in your best interest, in line with healthcare regulations.

Our clinical partners:

• Expert Health Ltd provides the clinical and prescribing aspects for many of our services. Expert Health is registered in England and Wales (company number 04058287), with its registered office at Lumina, Park Approach, Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8GB. Expert Health is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which means its services meet high standards of safety, effectiveness, and patient care. For healthcare regulatory purposes, the Expert Health’s Online Doctor Service is overseen by their Registered Manager.

Dispensing:

Prescriptions issued as part of the Online Doctor service are dispensed by Pharmacy2U, registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). This ensures your medicines are dispensed safely, securely, and to the highest professional standards. 

If you have any questions about your consultation, prescription, or delivery, our customer care team is here to help.

Metabolic Healthcare Limited (MHL) is a part of the Pharmacy2U Group, providing pharmacy services within the group. MHL operates under the trading name LloydsDirect, a registered pharmacy and a trusted brand in the UK for dispensing and dispatching prescribed medications. It is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) under registration number 9011437.