Topical eflornithine

Eflornithine is a specific, irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase which is thought to slow hair growth by inhibiting this enzyme in hair follicles. Percutaneous absorption of eflornithine in women with unwanted facial hair (hirsutism) was < 1% when the 15% cream was applied twice daily to a shaved 50 cm2 area of skin under the chin. In clinical studies in women with excessive, unwanted facial hair, eflornithine 15% cream was superior to placebo in reducing hair growth, as demonstrated by objective and subjective methods, after 2 to 8 weeks' treatment. After 24 weeks' treatment, 58% of eflornithine and 34% of placebo recipients had at least some improvement in facial hirsutism (for the purposes of this analysis all patients not assessed at week 24 were considered to be worse or to have no improvement). In addition, 32 versus 8% of patients were judged to be successfully treated (at least marked improvement). Hair growth returned to pretreatment rates within 8 weeks of stopping treatment. Use of a self-assessment questionnaire to assess the effect of study treatment on 6 aspects of patient well-being showed that eflornithine reduced the mean level of overall discomfort and bother by 33 versus 15% in placebo recipients. Adverse events mostly affected the skin. Only burning/stinging/tingling was markedly more common with eflornithine than with placebo.