A 4-month, open-label study evaluating the efficacy of eflornithine 11.5% cream in the treatment of unwanted facial hair in women using TrichoScan.

Abstract

Eflornithine 11.5% cream is an effective treatment for unwanted facial hair (UFH) in women with the effect on facial hair growth starting to be seen from 1 month after treatment initiation. TrichoScan is a validated method of assessing hair length, thickness, density, and growth rate using contact skin microscopy. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of eflornithine cream in women with UFH, as assessed by TrichoScan. In this open-label, single-centre study, 25 women (aged 25-63 years) applied eflornithine 11.5% cream to the upper lip twice daily for 4 months. Hair density, mean and cumulative hair length, mean hair thickness and hair growth rate were assessed at baseline and Month 1, 2 and 4 using TrichoScan. Eflornithine cream significantly decreased hair density from baseline to Month 1 (- 11.4 hairs/cm2, p = 0.014), Month 2 (- 16.5 hairs/cm2, p = 0.013) and Month 4 (- 12.05 hairs/cm2, p = 0.05). In addition, cumulative hair length decreased from baseline to Month 1 (- 7.104 mm, p = 0.001), Month 2 (- 10.054 mm, p < 0.001) and Month 4 (- 8.061 mm, p = 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in hair growth rate. Mean hair thickness did not change significantly. Eflornithine 11.5% cream is an effective treatment for UFH in women with the effect on facial hair growth starting to be seen from 1 month after treatment initiation.