Tried and tested topical treatment for acne.

Clinapil gel (Clindamycin gel) is a topical treatment for acne. It’s easy to use, has few side effects and, most importantly, it’s effective.
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Clindamycin phosphate gel is the first line of treatment for mild to moderate acne. It belongs to a group of medications known as lincomycin antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial infections. They kill the bacteria or prevent them from growing.
Your doctor may prescribe clindamycin as a single treatment or in combination with other topical treatments such as nicotinamide, benzoyl peroxide or retinoids. This will depend upon which type of acne you have.
Topical clindamycin is available as a gel, lotion, foam or solution. Your doctor may ask you to use clindamycin twice a day for around 3–4 months. They may then make changes after assessing the improvements.
As long as you use clindamycin as instructed, it can be highly effective and safe. You will mostly not experience any side effects. If you experience itchiness, redness, burning sensation, skin peeling or excessive dryness, take advice from your doctor immediately. It is important to complete the whole course of treatment, so don’t stop using clindamycin or make changes without consulting your doctor.
Acne is a very common skin condition that mostly affects the face, although it can also be found on the back and chest. It’s usually caused by small glands just under the surface of the skin producing sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that, when combined with dead skin cells, can block the pores. This can lead to small infections of the pores, causing various types of spots and flare ups.
As acne is caused by bacteria infecting the pores of the skin, using a topical antibiotic like clindamycin can be very effective. Clindamycin does not stop the glands from producing excess amounts of oil. Nor can it stop dead skin cells from blocking the pores, but it can stop the bacteria from infecting them. The main use for the topical clindamycin is to treat acne, but it can be prescribed for any bacterial infection of the skin. When used daily, it can also prevent them from occurring in the first place.
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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy
Clindamycin is pretty simple to use but it is advisable to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Clindamycin gel can take around 8–10 weeks to really get to work on the pores and prevent acne outbreaks. If you notice no difference after ten weeks you should speak with your doctor. Your doctor may make some changes to your treatment based on how it’s working for you. Thankfully, clindamycin tends to have a positive effect on the condition for most, so with just a little patience, you should see results eventually.
As there’s no advantage to taking more clindamycin than is prescribed, you should always follow the instructions of your prescribing doctor. Using too much clindamycin can increase the risks of side effects and irritate the skin further, so it might even be counterproductive.
If you think you’ve applied too much clindamycin or have used it more than prescribed, wash your skin and dry thoroughly. If you're worried, speak with your doctor, who should be able to reassure you of the risks or will recommend alternative ways to deal with it.
If you’ve missed a dose, don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. Simply apply the gel when you remember. If it’s close to the next scheduled use, skip it and carry on using clindamycin as you normally would. Don’t use twice the amount or use it twice to make up for the missed dose as this won’t help the condition.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy
Have something specific you want to know about Clinapil gel? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
A comparative study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination topical preparations in acne vulgaris. Volume 5, issue 2. Page : 106-110. [online] International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research. Available at:
Current Indications for the Use of Clindamycin: A Critical Review. Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases, [online] 9(1), pp.22–28. Available at:
Efficacy and safety of clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/tretinoin 0.025% formulation for the treatment of acne vulgaris: pooled analysis of data from three randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase III studies. European Journal of Dermatology, 24(2), pp.201–209. Available at:
Topical Nicotinamide compared with Clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. International Journal of Dermatology, 34(6), pp.434–437. Available at:
A randomized, single-blind comparison of topical clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide and adapalene in the treatment of mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. British Journal of Dermatology, 158(1), pp.122–129. Available at:
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