Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide

Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Compare To Other Treatments

Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide is available as a prescription topical treatment. It is available in gel form.

  • Available forms:

    • Topical treatment:

      • Gel/Jelly:
        • Brand names (US):
          • Acanya®
          • BenzaClin®
          • Duac®
          • Onexton®
            Generic available (US)
  • Available in these doses: 

    • Gel/Jelly:

      • 1.2% clindamycin / 2.5% benzoyl peroxide
      • 1.2% clindamycin / 3.75% benzoyl peroxide
      • 1.2% clindamycin / 5% benzoyl peroxide

Dosing information:

Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide is available in the form of gel and is applied once or twice a day.

Who is it for? 

  • Gender:
    • Males and females
  • Severity of acne:
    • Mild-to-moderate acne
  • Age:
    • Children of 12 years and older, adolescents, and adults 

How to use it:

Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide is a topical treatment and is available as a gel/jelly, and is usually applied once or twice a day depending on the dose and the form. Try to apply the gel around the same time every day to make sure that you do not forget to apply it.

Wait 30 minutes to apply the medication after washing or shaving because the alcohol present in the medication may irritate freshly washed or shaved skin. 

Do not wash the acne-affected skin too often because this may dry the skin and make your acne worse. Washing with water and a mild cleanser two times a day should be sufficient. Check this with your physician and ask your physician to recommend a moisturizer if necessary.

Continue applying the medication even if you do not see a lot of improvement at the start because it may take up to 12 weeks to see the full effect of this medication. Increasing the dose or frequency will not make the medication work faster. Check with your physician if there is no effect after 3 to 4 weeks or if your acne becomes worse.

If your physician has prescribed another topical treatment for your acne, it is best to apply the second treatment at least 1 hour after you applied clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide to avoid skin irritation because the treatments may not work properly if they are used close together. 

Mild stinging or burning may occur when using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide which may last up to a few minutes. If skin irritation persists, consult your physician. 

Do not get clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If it does get into your eyes, wash your eyes with a generous amount of water and seek medical attention if there is any irritation. 

Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide should not be used on skin that is not intact. If any clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide gets into a cut or scrape, rinse it with water.

Follow the instructions on your prescription carefully and use clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide exactly as prescribed by your physician. Do not change the dose or the frequency of your medication. Increasing the dose or frequency may cause skin irritation. Do not use the medication after the expiration date because the medication may not work properly anymore. If you have any questions about the medication or the prescription, ask your physician or pharmacist.

  • Gel/Jelly:
    • Wash your hands with soap and water before using the medication.
    • Before applying clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide gel/jelly, wash the acne-affected skin with water and a mild cleanser. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel. 
    • Apply a pea-sized amount of gel/jelly and spread evenly on the acne-affected skin.
    • After applying the medication, check in the mirror if there is a white film on your skin, which means that you have used too much gel/jelly.

Be aware of:

  • Before using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide, let your physician or pharmacist know if you are allergic to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, or any of the other ingredients in the gel. 
  • Before using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide, inform your physician about the prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are using/taking. You will find a complete list of drug interactions below.
  • Before using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide, inform your physician if you have currently suffered from or have ever suffered from any medical condition.
  • Before using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide, tell your physician if you suffer from severe diarrhea or fungal infections because clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide may make these conditions worse.
  • Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide may make your skin more sensitive to direct sunlight. Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to real and artificial sunlight (including tanning beds and sunlamps), and use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, especially if you tend to get sunburned easily. Wear sunglasses and protective clothing.
  • Clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide gel jelly is flammable, so do not mix, apply, or store it near an open flame.
  • You may use cosmetics while using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide, however, it is best to use “oil-free” cosmetics. Heavy or frequent use of cosmetics may make your acne worse. Consult your physician if you have any questions. 
  • Do not use other topical treatments, including peeling agents, without consulting your physician first because this may cause skin irritation and/or dryness. 
  • Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide may cause bleaching of hair and/or colored fabric. 
  • If you are using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide and are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant, talk to your physician about using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide during pregnancy.
  • If you are using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide and are breastfeeding, talk to your physician about using clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide during this period.
  • If clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide was prescribed for acne, you can continue your regular diet unless your physician advises otherwise.
  • Do not share your medication with anyone else. 
  • Keep your regular appointments with your physician to track your response to clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide.

Drug interactions: 

Inform your physician or pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take before starting clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide. Also inform your physician or pharmacist of the skin products you use including soaps, cleansers, moisturizers, and cosmetics.

Drugs that should not be used with clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide at all are:

  • Aminolevulinic acid topical
  • Fecal microbiota, live
  • Hydroquinone topical
  • Methotrexate
  • Porfimer
  • Tazarotene topical
Full list of drug interactions (From Epocrates)
  • Atracurium
  • Acitretin
  • Adapalene topical
  • Cisatracurium
  • Isotretinoin
  • Lactulose
  • Methoxsalen
  • Pancuronium
  • Rocuronium
  • Succinylcholine
  • Salicylic acid topical
  • Sodium picosulfate
  • Sulfur topical
  • Tretinoin topical
  • Trifarotene topical
  • Verteporfin
  • Vecuronium
  • Warfarin

What if I overdose? 

In case of overdose, contact an emergency facility or call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1 (800) 222-1222 (available 24/7).

If immediate assistance is necessary because the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call 911 at once.

Information can also be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help

What if I miss a dose?

As soon as you recall that you have missed a dose, apply the missed dose. However, skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose and continue with your prescribed dosing schedule. Do not increase the quantity or frequency of dosing to make up for the missed dose.

Storage:

Store your medication in the container that the pharmacist provided and keep it out of reach and out of sight of children. Many containers can be opened by children. Keep the container tightly closed. Always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location that is up and away from the sight of young children, to prevent poisoning (www.upandaway.org).

Store the medication at room temperature. Keep the medication away from excessive heat and moisture – do not store in the bathroom. Do not freeze clindamycin / benzoyl peroxide.

Disposal:

Do not keep outdated medication and medication that you no longer use. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in a way that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. Do not flush the medication down the toilet. Contact your pharmacist to learn about the availability of a medicine take-back program in your neighborhood, or get in touch with your local garbage/recycling department to ensure safe disposal. If you do not have access to a take-back program, you can find more information on safe disposal of medication on the FDA website: (https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ucm186187.htm)

References
  1. DailyMed.nlm.nih.gov. (2024) CLINDAMYCIN AND BENZOYL PEROXIDE gel. [online] Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=76795d1b-e1f2-4d1d-b42a-f1d4448c63c0 [Accessed Nov. 2 2024]
  2. Epocrates.com. (2024). Clindamycin/ benzoyl peroxide topical. [online]. Available at: https://www.epocrates.com/online/drugs/2533/clindamycin-benzoyl-peroxide-topical#black-box-warnings [Accessed Nov. 2 2024]
  3. DUAC.fda.gov. (2024). DUAC label. [online] Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/050741s021lbl.pdf [Accessed Nov. 2 2024]
  4. BenzaClin.fda.gov. (2024). BenzaClin® Topical Gel label. [online] Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/050756s040lbl.pdf [Accessed Nov. 2 2024]
  5. MedlinePlus.gov. (2024). Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical. [online] Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603021.html [Accessed Nov. 2 2024]