Topical Antibiotic
Efficacy
55%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Topical Antibiotic
Acne.org’s Real World Take
One of the less effective treatments out there. It should never be used on its own or for longer than 3 months and may lead to resistant strains of bacteria. It may provide a slight improvement in mild acne in some people.
Topical Antibiotic
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.
Used Clindamycin? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
August 29, 2013
Helped me...for a few years
Cons:
Bacteria Ressistance
Burning sensation at start of use
Expensive depending on your insurance
When i was about 11 or 12 years of age I had really bad acne in my T-zone at that point i had only tired proactive and the tea tree oil regime from The Body Shop which helped only a bit but did not get me clear. So when i went to my Dr she prescribed Clindamycin in the clindets form (which is like a wipe that gets rid of the bacteria that causes acne). I was around 13 or 14 when i started to use this prescription day and night with an over the counter Benzol Peroxide lotion. I swear it started working the first time i put it on, sure it did burn my eyes and my nose but i thought it was defiantly worth it cause I was clear within at least a month or two with maybe a couple pimples that would pop up when i forgot to apply it. Fortunately, due to this prescription i was clear throughout my whole high school years not having to wear makeup at all majority of the time which was a great feeling. But unfortunately, I got a bacteria resistance to this after 4 years of using it religiously and slowly my acne started to reappear but not as bad as it once had been (knock on wood). I do suggest trying this if you have the same kind of skin as mine : oily/ non-sensitive. But just remember this is NOT a cure! You're acne may come back after months or years of starting this.
August 6, 2013
Product used: Faceclin (Clindamycin (1%) and Nicotinamide (4%) Gel)
clindamycin + nicotinamide gel - works on treating active + is known to work on healing pigmentation(while treating active spots).it doesnt have the side effects of bp(it not as fast as bp though!)
Pros:
treats acne- anti bacterial
works on pigmentation
has no/less side effects(unlike bp); in some cases - slight/moderate oiliness is reported(am not much sure)
Cons:
like any other acne medication, it does make one photosensitive
is not as fast as bp when it comes to spot treat bacterial spot
works well for me - doesn't have cons of bp; which is why its always a preference for me.
it works fine on any inflamed spot or headed spots.
is also good for open spots.
September 19, 2015
how its use
May 15, 2016
Can this be used as a replacement or alternative to BP?
May 7, 2013
Pros:
cleared acne very well
reduces redness very fast
Cons:
dryed out skin
can be expensive
I had somewhat bad acne and I used almost every product out there, I tried this product and it saved my face(:
April 11, 2013
Pros:
- Fast working
- Reduces appearance of dark spots and scars overtime
- Combats blackheads as well
- Clears up blemishes and prevents new ones
- Inexpensive with insurance
Cons:
- Dries out skin
- Leaves big red spot in place where medicine was applied, if too much is applied
- Bleaches clothing
- Made me feel like I had Botox in my cheeks
- Visible that it's on your face if you don't apply a thin layer
- Can't really wear under makeup
- Alcohol smell
If you have insurance, purchase this product! I tried proactive my sophomore year of high school to get rid of the few blackheads I had and my face blew up in pimples and blackheads. In all honesty, this stuff saved my face. I was skeptical it wouldn't work, but it did wonders. If your a girl and have to pile on foundation and concealer to hide acne and scaring, get this! After consistently using this for over a year, I only had to apply a translucent powder. It's like magic in a jar. Amazing.
January 1, 2013
Pros:
Clears Acne
Removes scarring
Minimizes Pores
Skin looks smooth
Cons:
Sticky
Expensive without insurance
Face looks oily
Can't wear makeup
New breakouts within the first weeks
The product works well, you just have to be patient. It took a week for me to see results. It works for mild to moderate acne. It took about a month for all of my acne to be cleared.
October 23, 2012
Pros:
-Great spot treatment
-Gets rid of huge pimples overnight
-Works well on whiteheads
Cons:
-Can cause itchiness
I have been using differin for my overall face and clindamycin phosphate gel for spot treatment for a month now, and so far the results have been awesome. I usually put the clindamycin on spots overnight over the differin, and it helps get rid of the huge ones overnight. I usually glob alot on the pimples, so I'm pretty sure that makes a bigger difference than using a thin film. I also use it in the morning on smaller pimples that I know won't come to a head as fast, since I don't want a huge whitehead on my face during the day haha Overall, alot of my pimples are gone and the inflamation of them have reduced. I am very prone to discoloration though, but the differin is supposed to help with that. Good luck for anyone who is gonna try this product!
September 2, 2012
Pros:
took down redness and swelling
affordable
Cons:
patience is key
I am seventeen, but since i was twelve i have struggled and always felt self conscious with myself and it was the worst feeling in the world. my doctor prescribe this to me along with birth control. i dont know what role the bc plays but i can tell my skin has improved. i use a moisturized body wash and after my skin is fully dry add the gel( day and night). it is not made to get rid of any current acne you have but used to help prevent anymore. i still get new ones but i think it is bc i get lazy when it comes to washing my face and that is essential. i still have two more months for my regimen to determine if i need to be put on a stronger medication or not,
August 30, 2012
Pros:
-Not oily/greasy
-Reduces Swelling
-Mine has no scent
-Extremely fast acting
-Relatively cheap if you don't have insurance
Cons:
-Had a moderate flare up when I used a lotion with it
I've been dealing with moderate to severe acne since I was 13 (22 now). I've gone through every over the counter (Natural/Sialic Acid/Benzoyl Peroxide/ect.) and treatment plan (Proactiv/Skin ID) and nothing seemed to work. If fact, the expensive treatment plans made my face WORSE over time. Finally last week I was fed up and went to see a dermatologist. She prescribed me Clindamycin Phosphate Gel 1%, Tretin-X and Minocycline. So far I've only been able to get the Clindamycin, I'm waiting on the others. But as of a 6 day regiment of Oxy 10% Benzoyl Peroxide wash, waiting 15 mins, and a thin application of Clindamycin morning and night, I've noticed a HUGE difference. Even on day one I noticed the swelling was down of all the acne on my face within 30 mins. As I said, I've only been on this regiment for 6 days and my acne isn't completely gone, but it's far less sever, and I've got a lot more treatment ahead. The only negative side effect I noticed was on day four I used a small amount of Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer and I had a mild flare up. It was gone by the morning though and unnoticeable after my morning wash. All-in-all I'd recommend anyone to ask their derm for this product. It's super effective and fast acting. The only thing I can argue is I have read about some people saying they used this treatment for a year+ and I can say, without a doubt, that's a bad idea. This product is a topical antibiotic and is not intended for prolonged use. So make sure you have a good treatment plan lined up with your derm to effectively fight off acne.
July 27, 2012
Pros:
minimized pimples in a day
in two days cysts were gone
left nice clean skin on face
Cons:
-makes wrinkles look deeper (using with benzol peroxide)
-SLIGHT redness and flaking
-Still have yet to see a dramatic change in my Bacne
Been an acne sufferer since I was 11. I have cysts the size of pennies on my back and face. After I had my son my face got x2 as bad. I had welts and redness everywhere.
I finally had enough. Went to the doctor and since I am breast feeding I got prescribed Clindamycin and Benzol peroxide 5%. What I do: I wash my face with a simple glycerin bar of soap or a sulfur + lanolin soap. I add the benzol peroxide and rub it in to my face. I wait until its completely dry then I add the Clindamycin gel. I also try to be in the sun for at least 5 minutes a day. Its only been 3 days but my welts are gone and I feel like I can go out in public. I still have scarring and a blemish here and there, but MUCH better then the hard nodules I had. (hence the 4 star rating)
I have not been able to use it on my back since I just got a sunburn, but I will let you know. I will update in a few weeks to let everyone know if it is still working.
July 6, 2012
Pros:
Works for about a year when combined with retinoid like Tazorac.
Redness and inflammation eliminated.
Between this and Tazorac, skin went from fairly bad to completely clear in about 3 months (I know its a long time, but patience is the key with acne), but stayed completely clear for about a year.
Very affordable generic version.
Cons:
Stopped working after about a year-year/half.
Now I take Aczone.
Do NOT try oral antibiotics (minocycline, doxycycline, etc...) It may work for some, but the risks associated with them are too great for many people to handle. For most, the burdon far outweighs the benefit.
I've been wanting to write a review for this product for a while. I've been suffering from moderate acne for about 6 years (I'm 22) and have been through the ups and downs of MANY different products. I've researched extensively and I've seen 6 different dermatologists from 4 different facilities over the last 6 years. If you're a young person with moderate acne/oily skin, 90% of you should listen to me and do this: For starters, use Cetaphil Daily Face Wash 2x a day.
Mornings - use either an antibiotic (clindamycin - topical worked great for me for 1 year) or Aczone 30 mins after washing your face.
Evening - Tazorac .1% gel (pea sized amount) 30 mins after shower. Wait another 30 mins and apply moisturizer as needed (meaning chin, around mouth, near nose, maybe even upper cheeks), but don't apply to areas that are naturally greasy. Other useful and true tips:
Avoid greasy foods, excessive sweets, and cheese.
Change your pillow cases 2x a week (minimum).
After sweating (working out, sun bathing, etc) shower ASAP.
Most importantly, if you live in a sunny region, ENJOY THE SUN.
So many derms advise against sun tanning because of skin damage; but trust me, if you have oily skin, the risk of burning, wrinkles, or even permanent scarring is minimal to nonexistent.
Derms hate the sun - Why?
Because it provides Vit. D, dries the skin, and blends blemishes for FREE!...They can't compete with that.
The risks associated with drugs are FAR WORSE than skin damage from the sun. Case and point: Took minocycline and doxycycline on different occasions - both resulted in blue teeth/nails, migraines, and stomach pain. And we all know the numerous detrimental side effects of Isotretinoin/Accutane. Eat healthy, keep your face clean, try topical products first and try to avoid oral rx's like doxycycline and minocycline due to their numerous and harmful side effects (less systemic absorption of rx drugs),
Pros:
Works Fast!
Fades Hyper-pigmentation left after acne
Prevents acne