Skin Health Acne Treatment Topical Clindamycin Acne Treatment By Angela Palmer facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Angela Palmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on November 18, 2019 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD on November 18, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Uses How to Use It Side Effects Topical clindamycin is an antibiotic that is used to treat inflammatory acne. Topical clindamycin works by reducing the number of bacteria that cause acne. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, so it makes pimples less red and swollen. Usually, you'll start seeing improvement of your skin within 4 to 6 weeks after starting treatment. Although clindamycin is sometimes used in its oral form to treat acne, it is more commonly used as a topical treatment. The 4 Different Types of Pimples (and How To Treat Them) Uses Topical clindamycin is used to treat anything from stubborn-but-mild inflamed pimples to severe acne. Just like with oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics like clindamycin inhibit the growth of bacteria. A chief cause of acne is the bacteria Propionibacteria acnes. Reducing the amount of this pimple-inducing bacteria prevents breakouts from developing. Clindamycin doesn't keep pore blockages from forming, though, and blocked pores are another piece of the acne development puzzle. In fact, when it's used alone topical clindamycin isn't too terribly effective. Topical antibiotics alone aren't the best way to treat acne. They work really slowly when compared to other topical acne treatments available. But use topical clindamycin along with another acne treatment and you'll boost its effectiveness. Your dermatologist will likely prescribe you another acne treatment medication, like benzoyl peroxide or a topical retinoid, to use along with topical clindamycin. Using two acne medications like this will help get you faster results. It also helps prevent antibiotic-resistant bacteria from developing. Using Topical Antibiotics for Acne, Wounds, and Impetigo Formulations Clindamycin is sold under different brand names. It's also known as: Cleocin-TClindaMaxClinda-DermClindagelClindaReachClindetsEvoclinZ-Clinz Clindamycin is also used as an active ingredient in many combination acne medications. These treatments are a blend of two acne-fighting ingredients used together in one medication. Some of these include: Acanya (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide)Benzaclin (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide)Duac (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide)Ziana (clindamycin and tretinoin) Are Combination Medications the Right Acne Treatments for You? How to Use It Topical clindamycin comes in a variety of forms, like lotions, gels, foams, medicated pads (called pledgets), and toner-like solutions. What form you'll use depends on the brand medication prescribed and what your dermatologist thinks is most appropriate for you. Ghislain and Marie David de Lossy/Cultura/Getty Images Depending on which form you're using, you'll apply your topical clindamycin once or twice a day. Topical clindamycin is pretty simple to use. But there are a few things you can do to assure that you're the best possible results from your treatment. Don't just spot treat individual pimples. No matter which form of topical clindamycin you're using, make sure you apply it over the entire area affected by acne. So, if you break out on your face, apply to your whole face and not just on existing blemishes. If you break out on your chest, apply it to the entire chest, etc. Try to apply your medication at the same time every day. The time of day isn't important as long as you're consistent with it. So, if you decide to apply your medication in the morning, do so every morning ideally at approximately the same time. If you're on a twice-daily treatment, try to apply it as close to 12 hours apart as you can. Be consistent. What you don't want to do is apply it in the morning one day, evening the next, and skip the third day altogether. Consistency is your greatest ally when treating acne. Side Effects All acne medications can cause side effects. Luckily, side effects of topical clindamycin aren't usually too serious. Dryness, flakiness, or minor peeling of the skin is the most common. Your medication may burn or sting slightly when it's applied, and you might get some mild skin irritation. Serious side effects from topical antibiotics are very rare. Most people tolerate topical clindamycin fairly well but do tell your doctor if side effects are making you uncomfortable or seem excessive. Painful burning, cracking of the skin, or severe redness should all be brought to your doctor's attention. Although these side effects are very rare, do tell your doctor immediately if you get a severe headache, diarrhea, stomach cramps, or bloody stool. A Word From Verywell Topical clindamycin can be helpful in treating some cases of inflammatory acne, in both teens and adults. It's not really effective against comedonal acne. If you've been prescribed topical clindamycin for your acne, use it exactly as your dermatologist tells you and give it several weeks before expecting results. You may get new pimples during the first few weeks of treatment, so don't let that discourage you. Just keep using your treatment. Topical clindamycin isn't the right acne treatment choice for everyone, but if it's not right for you, no worries. There are plenty of other acne treatment options that will help you get clearer skin. Call your physician for help. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institutes of Health, US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Drug Information, "Clindamycin Topical" Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, Alikhan A, Baldwin HE, Berson DS, et. al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2016 May;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037 Gold LS.Efficacy and tolerability to fixed-combination acne treatment in adolescents. Cutis. 2013 Mar;91(3):152-9 PMID:23617089 Additional Reading Stein Gold L "Topical Treatments in Acne Vulgaris: Guidance for the Busy Dermatologist." Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2015 Jun;14(6):567-72.