Last week my derm at the hospital prescribed Benzamycin (to replace the Duac that has stopped working). When I went to collect it from the chemist they told me it hasn't been available in the Uk for the past year!

1. Shouldn't my derm have known this?!
2. What are my alternatives (topical)...I already use Retin-A....?
3. They have offered me erythromycin on its own, but I'm concerned about the lack of BP....is it ok to apply the 2 separate products at the same time if I ask for both?

Thanks muchly

well that sounds about right..it makes sense but you should def ask your derm about it..

Thanks for replying hun.

Wish I could ask my derm but I can't see him again until March, plenty of time for the acne-monsters to take my face hostage again!

your welcome..but if you cant see him how would you get the erythromycin then?

The UK systems a bit different, I see a derm at the hospital every 3 months, and whatever he recommends is sent over to my local doctor (GP) who then issues a prescription for the meds. I can request to see the doctor whenever I need to, for presc. changes etc, but must wait 3 months for the derm....my doctor's pretty clueless so not much good for advice!

well try the erythromycin over the bp and see how that goes..it should help

Yeah it's been discontinued for a while now.

I share your pain.. I used to use benzamycin for years and I thought I was cured from acne it worked that well. Until it was discontinued...

Ask your GP for Skinoren cream (azelaic acid 20%). It's really good and can help fade red marks as well. It's also used to treat rosacea.

I'm sorry to hear that, have you tried using the 2 main ingredients (erythromycin and BP) together as separate gels? My doc gave me them both today - a tube called Acnecide (BP) and one called Zineryt (erythromycin & zinc).

Now I'm not sure what to apply when, as I've heard it was withdrawn due to instability of the 2 ingredients being mixed together, and my doc didn't know

Thanks for the recommendation.

No i'm sticking with azelaic acid now.

Benzoyl peroxide causes permanent redness and i've seen some pretty damning pictures on this forum to prove it. The skin around my upper cheeks is slightly red probably because I used it for years so I don't want to use it again.

My face is very red but I presumed it was caused by the Retin-A. Maybe I'll drop the BP for a while and just use the erythromycin, see how that goes.

its absolute crap

Well I didn't get chance to find out if it was crap or not....had an allergic reaction to it and almost burned my face off!

Thats a shame, but it really is just useless. Doesn't help at all.

benzamycin has been replaced by benzaclin which is basically the same thing except using clindomycin instead of erythromycin as the antibiotic ingredient.

the newer version mixes better as anyone whose been on benzamycin (i can still get it here and its my topical of choice at night) knows that IT DOES NOT MIX WELL 90% OF THE TIME and is a huge pain in the ass plus you have to refridgerate it. the newer version mixes cleanly and can be stored at room temperature.

i haven't bothered to switch to the new version but honestly i don't see it being much different when it is finally discontinued here in canada i'll switch. right now both are avaliable tho and i jsut stick to what i know plus i like that cool feeling on my face at night! (plus i found a pharmacy that mixes it right 99% of the time...SCORE!)



i've been using benzamycin for close to 10 years in VERY copious doses in the evening and i moisturize and don't use it in the AM i have experienced no redness only clear skin, so i think it may differ in sensitivity and also when its applied. etc. just wanted to add that its not certain death for everyone especially long term users

Benzaclin is the same thing as Duac, which I was using before I was told to switch to Benzamycin (I had developed a resistance to the clindamycin).

Now I can't use clindamycin...erythromycin...or BP....sigh

Hi guys,

I'm a Gp registrar in the UK

Benzamycin was discontinued in March 2007 with no obvious replacement. Duac is the obvious alternative using a similar macrolide (type of antibiotic).
I have found Benzoyl Peroxide an excellent treatment for acne as it is available in 2.5, 5 and 10%. As Quinoderm it is available cheap over the counter as 5 and 10%.

There is absolutely no reason why you cannot use the separate ingredients conatined in Benzamycin, however you need a prescription for the topical erythromycin (Zineryt).
I would use zineryt first then apply BP on top as this is a cream so doesn't absorb as well.

All types of skin are different and so react to products and combinations differently. If you experience mild burning, redness or soreness this often settles down after continued use. If you experience severe symptoms or an itchy rash then you should stop the product.
In answer to the question, the next option may be an alternative oral antibiotic such as oxytetracycline.