Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Reviews
3.9
463 Reviews
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
68%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Side Effects
Low-Medium
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
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.
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Read All About Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide
Compare To Other Treatments
5
33.5%
4
39.1%
3
15.1%
2
8.2%
1
4.1%

Used Clindamycin / Benzoyl peroxide? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
August 8, 2011

Pros:

Cheap with card
Worked temporarily

Cons:

Hassle to use
Drying effect on face
Stopped working after a month
Made acne worse

After a few years of clear skin from minocycline, my know-it-all derm. decides it's best for me to stop the ONLY thing that's has worked on my acne and put me on topicals. I had been using tazorac the whole time I was on minocycline, but it was the mino. that kept me clear. Topicals have not done anything for me. If anything, they just make my face worse. My face doesn't react to benzoyl peroxide in a positive way. It seems to worsen my acne as proactive turned my light acne into inflammatory acne that I've had ever since. Acanya started to clear me up after four weeks. I was clear for about two or three weeks, but then the acne returned. I used it for like 18-20 weeks before I said f**k it. I went back to him and got another script for mino. which took forever to clear me up again, but once I ran out and told him how much I hate topicals (because they're a huge inconvenience that don't f**king work!) the douche bag prescribes me f**king aczone. I can't stand this cocksucker. He doesn't listen to my story and always tries to get me out of there as fast as he can. But yet he worries about minocycline and my body. My review: don't waste your time on this bullsh*t if you have papular acne or worse.
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August 7, 2010

Pros:

Clears skin fast

Cons:

little irritation at first

I've been usining Clindoxyl Gel for about 3 weeks now and I totally see a difference in my skin. I'm 41 and just started experiencing adult acne for about the last 5 years and I've tried everything from Proactive to drugstore products such as Vichy Normaderm and nothing has really worked until I started using Clindoxyl. My only concern is that I've been have diareaha (sp?) since I started and I know that is supposed to be one of the side effects, but can anyone tell me how long that is supposed to last?
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July 27, 2010

Pros:

can't tell yet

Cons:

a bit of itching, redness.
my pimples got a tiny bit worse after the first day.

I started getting pimples since grade 4. Grade 4! Now I'm starting highschool, so I've been with acne for about 4 years already. I started to wear makeup to cover some pimples but mainly my really red cheeks which I hated since forever. Little did I know that it would make it worse. I used to have light-moderate acne just on my forehead, but now because of the makeup, I have it nearly all over my face. Sigh. I wished I never started to wear makeup. I went to the doctor's with my mom and she prescribed me this, along with Differin to use at night. When I woke up on the first day of using it, I noticed slight improvement on my acne and scarring on my cheeks. Second day, it kind of got a bit worse with the itching and more redness ... But I will continue to use it and see what happens. I need it my acne to be clear by the start of school, so I don't have to keep wearing makeup and making it worse. I also have to go to camp, which means makeup is a nono. I only have about a month left, I hope my acne would be almost gone by then! p.s. Does anyone know what product helps really persistent red cheeks and will not cause breakouts? I absolutely hate my redness.
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August 27, 2009

Pros:

No smell, easy to apply, doesn't sting

Cons:

Minimal improvement, at times made acne even worse.

I was greatly unsatisfied with this product in general. It was prescribed to me by my doctor and it was a complete waste of money. Then he recently prescribed it to me again and I had to waste my money yet again. It doesn't work with my skin and it's results aren't up to par considering it's price.
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July 31, 2009

Pros:

I saw a difference within the first few days. Best of all, the stress pimples I used to get decreased enormously!

Cons:

A little dry, but nothing a good moisturizer can't handle.

Def give it a try!
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July 15, 2009

Pros:

I use Clindoxyl for my back, where I have light/moderate acne but widespread. I've found after a few weeks I hardly had any more pimples, and it seemed to help with scars too, although I can't really tell. No amazing cure, but I saw a difference.

Cons:

It seems to work better in some areas more than others, eg. it helped my upper back way better than my lower back. Also, it REALLY dried out my skin around my neck and shoulders.

I'd say try it, it doesn't sting, isn't majorly drying, and it works. Just keep at it and try not to get too discouraged! Also don't put on too much, if you do your skin gets really tight and feels gross, and also be careful with your clothes, because if you use it for your back, chest, whatever, it definitely does BLEACH!
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June 27, 2009

Pros:

-Clears up skin
-Gets rid of blackheads
-Minimal Irritation

Cons:

-Expensive!
-Takes a long time to see results

All in all this product is worth it. It does the typical Benzoyl Peroxide bleaching, and drying out business, but its managable. I have been using it for a year now and have always been pleased with the results. It does take some time before anything noticiable has occured, but that is another typical feature of acne products. I used to pay $30 for a 30g tube, which for a university student isn't something one can afford every month. So when I went to the pharmacy to refill it after a good paycheque I found out the price increased to $60 for a 45g tube. No thanks. However the tube does last for quite a bit. Sometimes I could go three months without having to go for a refill! I would recommend this product to anyone who has tried EVERYTHING possible. It does work, but it does take time! The results are fantastic!
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April 12, 2009

Pros:

- Has helped me a lot with cyst-like pimples I get time to time

Cons:

- Makes your skin super dry (particulary bad if you happen to have naturally very dry skin like me)
- Bleaches clothes and linen
- Is (at least here) quite expensive

It's hard to say wheather this is worth using... It does help but also has some side effects.
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February 15, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up acne really well :)

Cons:

Hard and difficult to use on back or shoulders if you have acne anywhere other than face, tends to bleech clothes or pillow sna dbed sheets, effects stop when you stop using almost immediately.

I was prescribed this before I tried the birth control pill. i really liked it but I developed a tolerance to it after a about 2 years of taking it. I took a break from it and now I just use it as a sort of spot treatment for any breakouts (like if I went out to the bar and wore a heavy make up and had a few pimples the next day) and it works very well. I liked that using this my acne didnt have to get worse before it got better. Also made face more sensitve than it aready was to sun, and if I ever put it on jsut before putting a shirt on in the morning, that shirt alwasy presented with a bleech like effect around the neck and sometimes on the shoulders.
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November 27, 2008

Pros:

Works within days.
Cleared up my pustules (the big, red, pus-filled ones)

Cons:

Caused dryness, redness, irritation but that decreased the longer I used it.
Didn't work on my comedones (the tiny, skin-coloured bumps)
Bleached my pj's

My doctor gave this to me the first time I went to him about my acne. I used a thin layer all over my face every night and it got rid of my bigger pimples. However I was still left with lots of tiny bumps on my cheek. My doctor prescribed me Tretinoin to get rid of those but my skin got too irritated when I tried to use both every day. Now I just spot treat the bigger pimples with Clindoxyl when they pop up. They are usually smaller by the next morning and are totally gone within a few days. I've used this for about 2 years but I ran out of it for a month before I could get my prescription renewed so now I'm going through the getting irritated by Clindoxyl stage again. My pharmacist recommended that at first I just use it for a few hours in the evening then wash it off and work my way up leaving it on overnight so that my skin can get used to it. I really recommend that to anyone who's just starting to use it so you won't wake up with a bright red, itchy face.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.