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.
How does Clindamycin gel work?
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.
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
Clinapil gelClindamycin 1% gel
How to use Clindamycin gel
Clindamycin is pretty simple to use but it is advisable to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Before using clindamycin, wash the affected area and dry the skin.
Cover the area lightly with the gel, there’s no need to put several layers on, and then leave it to do its work.
Use it at the same time each day (or times if instructed) and try not to miss an application.
Make sure you stick to your regular dosing schedule to get the most out of the treatment.
How long does it take Clindamycin gel to work?
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.
What should I do if I make a mistake when using Clindamycin gel?
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.
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
Clinapil gelClindamycin 1% gel
Clinapil gelClindamycin 1% gel
FAQ: Clinapil gel
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.
Is Clindapil gel similar to any other acne treatments?
Answer:
Clindapil gel contains clindamycin as its active ingredient and can be called clindamycin phosphate gel. There are also other brand names for the medication, including Cleargel, Clindac A, Clinagel, Clinagel, Clinka and Clinlup, which are exactly the same treatment with different packaging.
There are some acne products that contain more than one active ingredient, for example a combination of clindamycin (an antibiotic) and benzoyl peroxide (an antiseptic) as in Peroclin, Alesa Gel, Clinroz-BP and Clindoxyl. So, always be careful when choosing your medication.
Clindamycin and nicotinamide gel: which one’s better?
Answer:
Nicotinamide is one of the more widely used clindamycin gel combination treatments. It is a form of vitamin B that helps to reduce the inflammatory symptoms of acne, which in turn reduces redness and tenderness. So not only does it help to reduce the visible symptoms, it also feels less tender.
Clindamycin is usually the first line of treatment in treatment of acne. A clinical study reveals that 4% nicotinamide gel works as effectively as 1% clindamycin gel in treatment of inflammatory acne. 82% of patients using 4% nicotinamide gel and 68% using 1% clindamycin gel noticed improvements after 8 weeks of treatment. So, nicotinamide gel can be rightly considered as an alternative treatment for acne vulgaris.
Clindamycin and adapalene gel: what’s the difference?
Answer:
Clindamycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infection in the body while Adapalene is a topical retinoid which affects the growth of acne and reduces inflammation. A form of vitamin A, Adapalene helps to unblock the pores and stops them from becoming infected. It does this by reducing the overproduction of natural oils in the skin.
In topical treatments for inflammatory as well as non-inflammatory acne, antibiotics like clindamycin are sometimes combined with other treatments. This increases the effectiveness of the treatment and brings in better results. A clinical study compared the combination of clindamycin phosphate (10 mg) and benzoyl peroxide (50 mg) with adapalene 0.1%. Both the treatments were effective in treating acne but clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide together showed an early onset of action with a significantly better efficacy against inflamed lesions. A good number of patients using adapalene reported side effects while the clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide combination was better tolerated.
How effective is Clindamycin gel for acne?
Answer:
Clindamycin gel is very commonly one of the first treatments prescribed to treat acne due to its safety and effectiveness. Clinical studies show a 97% success rate in patients using it for 7 days.
So, while no medication can be said to be perfect, it is one of the most effective treatments available. What’s more, as it’s a topical treatment, it has few possible side effects. So, basically it’s low risk with high effectiveness.
Clindamycin is also combined with penicillin to treat severe infections.
Does Clindamycin gel help with acne scars?
Answer:
Acne scars are caused by large outbreaks of spots and getting rid of them can be difficult. So, it’s a good idea to try and prevent acne from occuring at the first place. This is where clindamycin is quite helpful as it doesn’t only treat acne but also reduces the risk of acne scars from appearing.
As acne scars are stubborn, a single treatment may not always work well. Your doctor may advise you a combination treatment of clindamycin with topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide depending on your type of skin, acne and severity of the scars. Salicylic acid, lactic acid, topical retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids are some over-the-counter medicines that are believed to help lighten acne scars.
Are there any natural alternatives to clindamycin gel?
Answer:
There are some non-pharmaceutical products that can help acne as a condition or some of its specific symptoms.
Chemical peels are a procedure where a solution is applied to the face that removes a layer of the skin. This allows new skin to replace it. Photodynamic therapy uses light to treat more severe cases of acne. Lastly, there is a small pen shaped tool called a comedone extractor, which helps to clear out blackheads and whiteheads.
Can I buy Clindamycin gel over the counter?
Answer:
As clindamycin is an antibiotic, you’ll need a prescription to buy it at your local pharmacy. There are some other acne treatments like salicylic acid, lactic acid, topical retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids that are available over the counter.
Acne treatment depends on your skin type, the kind of acne you have and the severity of your acne. Getting a treatment without consulting your doctor may sometimes give you severe side effects. Always take advice from a doctor as they’ll assess the condition of your acne and prescribe treatment that’s right for you.
Why should I buy Clindamycin gel online with Treated?
Answer:
We’re all about getting you the treatment you are looking for in a simple, hassle-free and safe way. Nobody knows you better than yourself. So, we give you the power of choice — the power to personalise your healthcare needs as it suits your life.
It all starts with a remote consultation with our doctors so that they have all they need to know to prescribe acne medication to you. All you have to do is choose the one you want. Once processed, we will deliver your medicines to your door. We will also check with you regularly to see that the treatment is going well with you.
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Kaur, J., Sehgal, V.K., Gupta, A.K. and Singh, S.P. (2015).
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:
Dréno, B., Bettoli, V., Ochsendorf, F., Layton, A.M., Perez, M., Dakovic, R. and Gollnick, H. (2014).
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:
Shalita, A.R., Smith, J.G., Parish, L.C., Sofman, M.S. and Chalker, D.K. (1995).
Topical Nicotinamide compared with Clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. International Journal of Dermatology, 34(6), pp.434–437. Available at:
Langner, A., Chu, A., Goulden, V. and Ambroziak, M. (2007).
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:
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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