Clindamycin is an antibiotic that kills certain types of bacteria or stops them from growing. Doctors may prescribe this to kill Propionibacterium acnes P. While P. This is one of the reasons doctors prescribe antibiotics like clindamycin with other treatments.
Doctors will usually recommend using several different treatments to target certain acne types. For example, doctors may prescribe clindamycin to treat mild to moderate acne, but not usually to treat severe acne forms.
If you have the type of acne that clindamycin is good for, your doctor will usually recommend the following combination of treatments :.
Your doctor may recommend using benzoyl peroxide and a topical antibiotic, or a topical retinoid and a topical antibiotic. There are several options of combinations, and they depend upon what acne types you have. Topical 1 percent clindamycin was shown to reduce acne in people with moderate inflammatory acne after 8 weeks of twice daily treatment, according to a study. Another study found that applying a combination of clindamycin and tretinoin a retinoid for 12 weeks helped reduce the appearance of acne with minimal side effects.
Your doctor will prescribe topical clindamycin, typically for twice daily application. Different preparations are available. Some preparations, like topical foams, may contain alcohol and sting or burn when applied to the skin. Completing a full course of antibiotics ensures that the clindamycin kills off most of the bacteria. Stopping too early can increase your risk for antibiotic resistance. Doctors usually intend for antibiotics like clindamycin to be used as shorter-term treatments.
After this time, your doctor may recommend that you stop using topical clindamycin but continue using other topical preparations, such as benzoyl peroxide or retinoids. Doctors usually associate topical clindamycin with minimal side effects.
Most of the time, if you have a reaction to the topical application, you can either apply less of the clindamycin or discontinue its use. Topical clindamycin is a Pregnancy Category B drug.
As with most medications, you can experience side effects from the topical application of clindamycin. This can include an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity. You can experience swelling , itching , or hives due to an allergic reaction. You should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience watery or bloody stools, diarrhea or stomach cramps after using clindamycin. Clindamycin is available as a lotion, gel, foam or solution.
Follow the instructions provided with your medication and apply it to areas of your skin that are affected by acne. Before applying clindamycin, make sure that your skin is clean. Make sure to wash the affected area with warm water and gently dry it before applying your medication.
Only apply as much as your healthcare provider recommends. Clindamycin is only safe for use on your skin. Make sure to avoid getting the medication close to or in your eyes, nose, mouth or areas with broken skin. If you accidentally apply clindamycin to these areas, make sure to rinse them thoroughly using cool water. Do not smoke while applying clindamycin, as some clindamycin products may be flammable.
Benzoyl peroxide is an over-the-counter acne treatment that works by reducing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Some topical acne treatments combine clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide for an extra effect against acne. Tretinoin is a topical retinoid. Tretinoin and clindamycin are often used together to treat acne. In one study from , researchers found that a combination of tretinoin and clindamycin was more effective at getting rid of acne than topical clindamycin by itself. Isotretinoin is an oral retinoid.
In a study , topical clindamycin and isotretinoin were found to be effective in treating moderate acne. As a topical antibiotic, clindamycin can be a powerful tool for getting rid of acne and preventing breakouts from occurring again in the future. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:.
Before applying this medicine, thoroughly wash the affected areas with warm water and soap, rinse well, and pat dry. When applying the medicine, use enough to cover the affected area lightly.
You should apply the medicine to the whole area usually affected by acne, not just to the pimples themselves. This will help keep new pimples from breaking out. You should avoid washing the acne-affected areas too often. This may dry your skin and make your acne worse. Washing with a mild, bland soap 2 or 3 times a day should be enough, unless you have oily skin. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Topical clindamycin will not cure your acne. However, to help keep your acne under control, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days.
You may have to continue using this medicine every day for months or even longer in some cases. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. It is important that you do not miss any doses. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
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