Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide

Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Compare To Other Treatments

What Is It?

Often known by its brand names AcanyaⓇ or BenzaclinⓇ, this topical treatment is a combination of clindamycin, which is a topical antibiotic that helps slow or stop bacteria growth and reduce skin inflammation, and benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne bacteria and dries/peels the skin. 

It is usually applied twice a day.

Efficacy

Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Average 68% reduction in acne after 12 weeks
▸ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
▾ Based on These Clinical Studies & Trials
  1. Stein Gold, L. et al. Efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%, benzoyl peroxide 3.1%, and adapalene 0.15% gel for moderate-to-severe acne: A randomized Phase ii study of the first triple-combination drug. Am J Clin Dermatol 23, 93–104 (2022).
  2. Patel, R. R. & Karelia, B. N. A study of effectiveness and safety of topical combination therapy for acne vulgaris patients in dermatology department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. (2020).
  3. Sharma, R., Gupta, R. & Malhotra, P. A comparative evaluation of benzoyl peroxide & clindamycin versus tretinoin and clindamycin in cases of acne vulgaris. Int. J. Dermatol. Venereology Leprosy Sci. 2, 25–27 (2019).
  4. Lueangarun, S., Sriviriyakul, K., Tempark, T., Managit, C. & Sithisarn, P. Clinical efficacy of 0.5% topical mangosteen extract in nanoparticle loaded gel in treatment of mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris: A 12-week, split-face, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. J Cosmet Dermatol (2019) doi:10.1111/jocd.12856.
  5. NCT02465632. To study generic clindamycin 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% topical gel (Glenmark Generics, Ltd) in the treatment of acne vulgaris. (2017).
  6. NCT00713609. Safety and efficacy study of clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide/tazarotene cream in subjects with acne. (2017).
  7. Del Rosso, J. Study results of benzoyl peroxide 5%/clindamycin 1% topical gel, adapalene 0.1% gel and use in combination for acne vulgaris. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 6, 616 (2017).
  8. Xu, J. H. et al. A multicentre, randomized, single-blind comparison of topical clindamycin 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% once-daily gel versus clindamycin 1% twice-daily gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris in Chinese patients. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 30, 1176–1182 (2016).
  9. Schaller, M., Sebastian, M., Ress, C., Seidel, D. & Hennig, M. A multicentre, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of benzoyl peroxide 3%/clindamycin 1% with azelaic acid 20% in the topical treatment of mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 30, 966–973 (2016).
  10. Richter, C. et al. Reduction of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions with topical tyrothricin 0.1% in the treatment of mild to severe acne papulopustulosa: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 29, 1–8 (2016).
  11. NCT01138514. Clinical study between two clindamycin 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% topical gels. (2016).
  12. Dubey, A. & Amane, H. Comparison of efficacy and safety of adapalene and benzoyl peroxideclindamycin combination in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology 5, 1727–1732 (2016).
  13. Kawashima, M., Hashimoto, H., Alió Sáenz, A. B., Ono, M. & Yamada, M. Clindamycin phosphate 1·2%-benzoyl peroxide 3·0% fixed-dose combination gel has an effective and acceptable safety and tolerability profile for the treatment of acne vulgaris in Japanese patients: a phase III, multicentre, randomised, single-blinded, active-controlled, parallel-group study. Br J Dermatol 172, 494–503 (2015).
  14. Kaur, J., Sehgal, V. K., Gupta, A. K. & Singh, S. P. A comparative study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination topical preparations in acne vulgaris. Int J Appl Basic Med Res 5, 106–110 (2015).
  15. Shwetha, H., Geetha, A. & Revathi, T. A comparative study of efficacy and safety of combination of topical 1% clindamycin and 0.1% adapalene with 1% clindamycin and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide in mild to moderate acne at a tertiary care hospital. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 6, (2014).
  16. Pariser, D. M., Rich, P., Cook-Bolden, F. E. & Korotzer, A. An aqueous gel fixed combination of clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and benzoyl peroxide 3.75% for the once-daily treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. J Drugs Dermatol 13, 1083–1089 (2014).
  17. NCT01044264. Clinical study between two 1% clindamycin/5% benzoyl peroxide topical gel formulations. (2012).
  18. Guerra-Tapia, A. Effects of benzoyl peroxide 5% clindamycin combination gel versus adapalene 0.1% on quality of life in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized single-blind study. J Drugs Dermatol 11, 714–722 (2012).
  19. Gonzalez, P., Vila, R. & Cirigliano, M. The tolerability profile of clindamycin 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% gel vs. adapalene 0.1%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel for facial acne: results of a randomized, single-blind, split-face study. J Cosmet Dermatol 11, 251–260 (2012).
  20. Seidler, E. M. & Kimball, A. B. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials using 5% benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin versus 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin topical treatments in acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 65, e117–e119 (2011).
  21. Eichenfield, L. F. & Alió Sáenz, A. B. Safety and efficacy of clindamycin phosphate 1.2%-benzoyl peroxide 3% fixed-dose combination gel for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active- and vehicle-controlled study. J Drugs Dermatol 10, 1382–1396 (2011).
  22. Choudhury, S., Chatterjee, S., Sarkar, D. K. & Dutta, R. N. Efficacy and safety of topical nadifloxacin and benzoyl peroxide versus clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled trial. Indian J Pharmacol 43, 628–631 (2011).
  23. Seidler, E. M. & Kimball, A. B. Meta-analysis comparing efficacy of benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide with salicylic acid, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin in acne. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 63, 52–62 (2010).
  24. Karsai, S., Schmitt, L. & Raulin, C. The pulsed-dye laser as an adjuvant treatment modality in acne vulgaris: a randomized controlled single-blinded trial. Br J Dermatol 163, 395–401 (2010).
  25. Jackson, J. M., Fu, J.-J. J. & Almekinder, J. L. A randomized, investigator-blinded trial to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of a benzoyl peroxide 5%/ clindamycin phosphate 1% gel compared with a clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/tretinoin 0.025% gel in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. J Drugs Dermatol 9, 131–136 (2010).
  26. Zouboulis, C. C., Fischer, T. C., Wohlrab, J., Barnard, J. & Alió, A. B. Study of the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of 2 fixed-dose combination gels in the management of acne vulgaris. Cutis 84, 223–229 (2009).
  27. Ko, H.-C. et al. Prospective, open-label, comparative study of clindamycin 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% gel with adapalene 0.1% gel in Asian acne patients: efficacy and tolerability. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 23, 245–250 (2009).
  28. Dhawan, S. S. Comparison of 2 clindamycin 1%-benzoyl peroxide 5% topical gels used once daily in the management of acne vulgaris. Cutis 83, 265–272 (2009).
  29. Thiboutot, D. et al. An aqueous gel fixed combination of clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% for the once-daily treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris: assessment of efficacy and safety in 2813 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 59, 792–800 (2008).
  30. Langner, A., Sheehan-Dare, R. & Layton, A. A randomized, single-blind comparison of topical clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide (Duac) and erythromycin + zinc acetate (Zineryt) in the treatment of mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 21, 311–319 (2007).
  31. Leyden, J. J. et al. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of a combination topical gel formulation of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and vehicle gel in the treatments of acne vulgaris. Am J Clin Dermatol 2, 33–39 (2001).
  32. Lookingbill, D. P. et al. Treatment of acne with a combination clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide gel compared with clindamycin gel, benzoyl peroxide gel and vehicle gel: combined results of two double-blind investigations. J Am Acad Dermatol 37, 590–595 (1997).
  33. Tucker, S. B., Tausend, R., Cochran, R. & Flannigan, S. A. Comparison of topical clindamycin phosphate, benzoyl peroxide, and a combination of the two for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Br J Dermatol 110, 487–492 (1984).

Side Effects

Low-Medium
Low-medium side effects and adverse reactions

Acne.org's Real World Take

A more dangerous way of using benzoyl peroxide that studies show works a bit better than benzoyl peroxide alone. However, when used properly, benzoyl peroxide on its own can completely clear the skin without the addition of antibiotics.

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3.9
463 Reviews

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