Ziana : Clindamycin (1.2%) and Tretinoin (.025%) Gel

A few things: -do NOT review this item until you have used it for at least 3 months! -If you have any reason to believe that your acne is hormonal, do NOT use this. Topical medications such as Ziana will only bring blemishes to the surface faster; it does not treat hormonal acne. I was prescribed Ziana in the beginning of August 2012. I used it religiously for about 3 months (at bedtime) along with Clindamycin Pledgets and Erythromycin 500mg every day. I did experience a purging period. A few cysts around the chin/jawline area along with numerous, small zits. After about 7-8 weeks, I saw improvement, and my hopes were up. Yet out of no where, my acne returned to a state similar to the original purging period. 3 months into treatment, I had a follow-up visit with my derm. She kept me on it, but upped my antibiotic intake (which I'm not fond of). I was also given a chemical peel. From experience, I knew I would break out from it, but I was hopeful this was the last push I needed...it wasn't. My forehead broke out tremendously (which it hasn't done in 7 years) and it seemed like I was about to experience a third purging period! Three (3) weeks after the peel, I switched forms of birth control from Mirena (a progestin-only method) to NuvaRing (a combination hormonal method). After one week of the switch, I can already see a difference in my skin! I still use Ziana, however, it is ironic because Ziana is at least partly responsible for them being there. Long story short: If you believe your acne is a result of some sort of hormonal imbalance, or you use a progestin-only method of hormonal birth control. do NOT use this!

Honestly, I would not recommend Ziana or any other retinoids. They make your face extremely ugly while your skin adjusts to it. Similarly, after you stop using them, your face becomes extremely ugly. Doctors and studies say that the side effects of retinoids go away with continued use or after you stop taking them. The truth is that they do not really go away. Basically what I am saying is that you will never get back the skin texture that you had BEFORE you started taking retinoids, even if you discontinue using it or even with continued use. This is what happened to me. My skin texture before i started using retinoids was 10x better. Even after the side effects subside, my face still does not look like what it used to. If you are happy with the current skin texture that you have right now, DO NOT use Ziana or any retinoids because you will NOT be getting back that skin texture. Trust me.

Honestly, only use this product and other retinoids (Differin, Atralin, etc.) only if you ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY have to AND if you see that your skin responds to it in a non-crazy way. The benefits don't always outweigh the side effects.

Ziana definitely attacks acne, but there is a huge catch. I was initially prescribed Ziana to cure the whiteheads and blackheads that were stubbornly appearing on my forehead. For that, it worked great. In fact, I should have used it for solely that purpose. In a follow up appointment, my dermatologist recommended it for my whole face. Bad idea. I had pretty mild acne on my cheeks and chin, but this stuff made it a whole new ballgame. I am just weening myself off this stuff and realizing that it made my acne worse in these areas. Might as well have not used anything. Good drug for what I said it cured, but otherwise, forget it. On paper a combination of retinoid + antibiotic should work well, but for whatever reason the results for this medication are mediocre. That's pretty much the gist of it.

Some background: I have very temperamental skin that is prone to normal, mild acne in some spots and massive cystic acne in others. Topical treatments have never worked for me. After a horrible breakout a few months ago, I was put on Ziana. Initially, I had horrible dry skin, peeling and a terrible phase of constant purging. I have been using this product consistently for about 7 weeks and I can honestly say it has made a huge difference. The areas that had mild acne are completely clear, and the last of my cysts are healing. Give this product time to work and it will. Now I just have to deal with some mild scaring and I will be good to go!

GET it!!!

I have been using Ziana gel for about 3 months now. Its hard to tell how much this product has improved my acne. This year has been the first year that I have had BAD acne, everywhere! I started to breakout on my chest, arms, and lower back. I had never had a problem with my skin before. I learned that I was under too much stress, I wasn't getting enough vitamins and I was often dehydrated, all causes of acne. I can tell that the improvements that I have made have significantly helped, now I'm just waiting for the marks on my skin to go away. I'm not sure if I can continue to use Ziana gel as money is tight right now, I don't have insurance, and I've already gotten 3 discounted tubes of Ziana gel :(

Im a male 21 who lives in New York. I typically hav clear skin in the summer and spring but in the fall and winter i tend to break out. I used proactiv my whole life until 18 when i broke out VERY bad. I then went to my derm and he gave me Benza cyclin cream for the morning and tretinoin cream at night. I would only wash my face in the mornings with neut. oil free acne wash(orange gel). i would just apply the tret before bed. This cleared up my skin completely with the occasional break out, but made my face RED with morning flakes. It was too harsh. I used this combo till 21 and used proactive again that summer only for the fall to come now and start to break out again. I have been using Ziana for about 2 weeks now every night and have really not had any bad break outs, but all the discolorations on my chin will not go away. and i feel like im starting to get things there. Its easier on the skin then what i was doing and all-in-all not a bad product. I think i must give it more time

i stop using it but i going to to use it again mile case of acne had a'bout 6 mouths i got a discount card from my doctor cost me $25,00

Every skin type is different but this is worth a try.