Skip to main content

Clindamycin topical for Acne User Reviews

Brand names: Clindagel, Cleocin Vaginal, Cleocin T, Clindamax, Xaciato, Evoclin, Clindacin, Clindacin P, Clindets, C/T/S, Clinda-Derm, Clindets Pledget, Cleocin Ovules, ClindaReach Pledget, Clindacin ETZ, Clindesse Clindacin PAC …show all brand names

Clindamycin topical has an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from a total of 135 reviews for the treatment of Acne. 69% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 21% reported a negative experience.

Clindamycin topical rating summary

7.4 average rating out of 10

135 ratings from 150 user reviews.

Compare all 309 medications used in the treatment of Acne.

10
39%
9
16%
8
14%
7
5%
6
2%
5
1%
4
1%
3
4%
2
6%
1
12%

Reviews for Clindamycin topical

  • Lil...
  • February 10, 2017

"I needed to find a way to review the clindamycin gel because oh my god, I am finally free of acne and I feel like I need to tell the whole world. For 9 years, I struggled with anything from blackheads to horrible cystic acne. I have very oily skin, and my pores get clogged so much. Trust me when I tell you, I have tried EVERYTHING!! I am literally like a walking encyclopedia on skin. I can't believe all it took was this gel. Why couldn't someone have told me that this was all I needed? How did I go so long without knowing about this? 1 week after using this, and I do not have any acne on my face. It's all gone. I can't stop looking in the mirror and touching my face and crying. Try this gel!! It might change your life like it did for me!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
329 Report
  • Jac...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • November 14, 2019

"I had acne in my teen years and my early twenties, and then the acne started to come in constant breakouts that were becoming painful. I started clindamycin topical with tretinoin topical (to help with the acne scars) prescribed by my doctor. I noticed slightly less acne inflammation within a couple of weeks. The real results started to show a couple of months in. I think it is worth waiting it out to see if it might improve. I had random acne flare-ups throughout the first year that were minimal in comparison to the flare-ups I had before. Currently, I am in my second year of using clindamycin, and I no longer have acne breakouts (even if I ate bad food that would normally make my acne worse). It took approximately three months into using the topical before I felt confident enough to no longer need to wear makeup. Highly recommend this product. I hope it works for you too."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
81 Report
  • Rob...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 28, 2019

"So I am on my first week of clindamycin for acne. Reading these reviews, I was thinking - man, my acne will be gone in 3 days... not true. So far, it appears to be getting worse. I have comedonal acne caused by a new birth control I was prescribed. Prior, I never had acne, just a pimple on my chin or odd place once in a while. Now I have about 100-200 small little bumps on my face in clusters on my chin, jawline, and cheeks. It’s pretty depressing, I hardly want to go out anymore since I look like I’m just growing weird lumps on my face. My doctor prescribed me this. I feel as though so far, it is causing more bumps, but also making them smaller, and it has inflamed some of them to turn into actual pus-filled zits. But they dry up fast. One week in and my acne is still here. It’s hard because you want a quick fix, but I know that can’t happen. I will update in a month and let you guys know if this can treat comedonal acne! Let’s hope, fingers crossed."

Was this helpful?YesNo
82 Report
  • car...
  • March 20, 2017

"As I started college, my skin broke out like no other - cystic type and absolutely embarrassing. I was too embarrassed to go out just because my skin was so bad. I always take care of my skin and have a very clean routine, so I had no idea why this was happening. I tried retinol, and it cleared my skin up some, but it wasn't worth the pain and price. My skin felt like it had chemical burns all the time and was red. After being prescribed Clindamycin, my face cleared up in a day. I have no idea how this is possible, but I've only been using it for a few days, and my skin feels so soft and acne-free. Can't rave about this enough! I have never written a review for anything before, but this product deserved it."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
102 Report
  • SMS...
  • March 10, 2015

"My PA prescribed this for me after I complained of bad cystic acne at 30 years old. This medicine has been nothing short of life-changing. It took only a few days before I started seeing my skin clearing up. Now a few months in, I can easily go out without makeup! I honestly feel like a new person."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
97 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • Ros...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 5, 2019

"I have had the most stubborn acne on my forehead since I was in middle school. On top of that, I always would pop my pimples, which left horrible scarring. NOTHING worked, and I mean nothing worked until my doctor prescribed the gel form of clindamycin, and within the next morning, my forehead was already improving. I absolutely swear by it."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
61 Report
  • ton...
  • May 21, 2015

"I am a 60-year-old male with adult acne. I feel like I am reliving my teen years. My scalp, my face, and my back and neck started to break out. I tried several prescription meds, but when I finally used clindamycin topical gel, I saw a huge difference in the condition. Now I am mostly all clear and I am also very happy. Also, no side effects. I truly hope that everyone could have these results, especially you teens. God bless. Truly yours, Porkchops 5/21/2015"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
91 Report
  • Mar...
  • January 22, 2015

"I have very bad acne to the point I was afraid to go out, so I went to the dermatologist, and he gave me two antibiotics: one clindamycin lotion and PanOxyl benzoyl peroxide. I just started using them this Monday, and 4 days later, I feel a difference in my skin. I'm so glad I can show my beautiful face."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
93 Report
  • Nev...
  • March 2, 2020

"I was prescribed the gel form for ingrown hairs on my neck and acne. I’ve only been using this medication for 3 days, applying twice per day, morning and night. The medication is very expensive. My pharmacist told me it just recently increased in price, January 2020. My prescription, after insurance, was $68.45 for the small tube. I was prescribed 17 refills and an oral antibiotic to take daily for 3 months by my dermatologist. At day three, I’m already seeing a drastic difference on my neck, with the big swollen ingrown hair areas reduced in size and no longer bright red. I haven’t experienced any side effects yet. I’ll repost an update in 30 days."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
52 Report
  • Tor...
  • March 9, 2015

"This lotion actually stopped my breakouts in one week of usage. By the second week, my skin began to even its tone. If on the rare occasion I do have a breakout, the pimple dries out in two days and doesn't leave a scar! It's very costly though for such a small amount of product."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
85 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 18, 2016

"I love this stuff! I'm not a person with horrible acne, but I started to break out more, and that was annoying, so my doctor prescribed me this, and seriously overnight my face was 10x better! Now I'm on day 6, and I only have two zits, and my face looks really good! I've had no irritation or redness, but I had a little dry skin, which was easily fixed with a more moisturizing lotion! Overall, I give this product a 10/10, it's so amazing!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
65 Report
  • Som...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 29, 2020

"For many, many years I would get 2-3 boils a month on my buttocks. My buttocks were constantly inflamed and red. It was unbelievably painful. I was so embarrassed that I never went to the doctor, just tried to change things in my lifestyle. Needless to say, nothing worked. I finally decided to go to a dermatologist after over 10 years of dealing with it (crazy, I know). She prescribed me clindamycin phosphate, and within 2 weeks, my condition was gone! I have been using it since February, and I haven’t had a boil/massive pimple since then! My buttocks finally look normal. No more redness, no more inflammation, and no more pain! I’m so thankful for this lotion!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
38 Report
  • Use...
  • December 21, 2015

"I had never had acne until I turned 22, an occasional pimple but suddenly I began getting cystic acne; it was not severe but bad. Honestly, I had tried nearly everything for it. Thankfully, I was only getting it on my face, but the cysts kept growing and after trying months of prescription levels and regimens of Retin-A, benzoyl peroxide, doxycycline, and a few others - I had no to very little improvement. I was about to be put on Accutane - thankfully I asked my doctor about clindamycin. Within a week of starting this, my face actually stopped hurting. Within 90 days, most of my acne had cleared up with a few deeper cysts that had decreased in size by at least 80%. 6 months later, and my skin looks like normal healthy skin again. This stuff truly changed my life and gave me my confidence back. Can not recommend it enough."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
68 Report
  • L0S...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 20, 2016

"I have suffered with severe acne on my face and back for years now. I can't recall when it first became a serious health issue that impeded on my personal, social, and sexual life; but a good guess would be that the severity increased around seventeen years old. I am now twenty-two. My acne is worst on my upper back - extremely painful cystic lumps, as well as enormous whiteheads. I can't reach these to treat, and popping leaves unsightly scars, as well as being excruciatingly painful. The acne on my back has caused me many sleepless nights due to pain, swelling, and discomfort. I also have had acne on my face that causes a large amount of pressure, migraines, and whiteheads on my chin. Two weeks on this, and it's clearing up very well! NO s/a."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
62 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 13, 2019

"My acne was not terrible, but my dermatologist put me on clindamycin phosphate topical gel 1% to clear up what was there. She did say it could take up to 3 months, and my skin may get worse. I have almost reached my 3 months, and my skin has gotten MUCH worse, and it feels like the acne is multiplying. It has left scars, and the acne that I continue to get takes forever to go away. I am very sad and disappointed, it has ruined my confidence."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
40 Report
  • lau...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 9, 2019

"I’ve been dealing with pretty nasty rounds of cystic acne for the past couple of years. They would scab, be HUGE, and almost impossible to cover up. I was so insecure! I’m assuming it was hormonal, but I’ve also had a problem with picking my face as well, so oftentimes bacteria would get in there and make it a hundred times worse. I’ve been using clindamycin that you apply since January, and it literally cleared my skin over the first five days of me using it. It works till I run out, and then my skin is pretty clear after a week of not using it if I’ve been using it for a few weeks prior. I just got a new round, and I was breaking out horribly, and my face was mega red. I put some on my face last night and woke up with NO swelling on my face and the redness gone!! Even scabbing stopped. This stuff saved my self-esteem!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
41 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 10, 2016

"I have always had acne, especially around my mouth and forehead. Cystic, painful, and ugly. I've tried medicines, facials, expensive face washes, not washing my face, EVERYTHING. When I became pregnant, the problem became so much worse. It was so bad I actually had people comment on it. I asked my baby doctor what I could do, and she prescribed this gel. The problem stayed the same for a few weeks. It gradually got better and better, and now I haven't had a breakout in weeks. My skin tone is actually improving too. I would recommend this to anyone. I will continue to use this after having the baby as well."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
55 Report
  • Noj...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • March 29, 2014

"I love, love, love this product. It is truly the only thing that has worked for my acne. I am lucky and haven't experienced any side effects. I know that everybody is different, but I recommend trying it."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
64 Report
  • Nic...
  • April 18, 2016

"Personally, I never really had bad acne, just here and there, kind of thing. So, when I brought up it being embarrassing to my doctor, she prescribed clindamycin to me, and I swear to you, it's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I cleared up in a couple of weeks, and even my scarring was gone. The only pitfall is the drying effect. Highly recommend."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
54 Report
  • Ani...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 3, 2017

"So I'm a 26-year-old woman who's struggled with acne and hyperpigmentation for over ten years. I absolutely love this medicine. I started using it almost a week ago, and my acne is almost completely gone, all of the inflammation is gone, and my skin tone is finally looking like a normal color again. I'm using this with a tea tree and vitamin E lotion to prevent drying as well. Seriously, this stuff has been amazing for me. Good luck!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
49 Report
  • Tri...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 9, 2019

"57-year-old woman with bizarre adult onset acne on forehead near hairline and cheeks. Not the T-zone. It didn’t matter how much I cleaned it. My doctor prescribed clindamycin gel 1%. My acne cleared up quickly, but added bonus. My skin looks the best it has in 20 years! It’s practically glowing. I’m very pale, and the red/purple spots left by acne faded much quicker than normally would have too. It took two or three months before I realized this added benefit. I swear my aging skin looks younger. Not the reason I use it, but love this part of it!!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
36 Report
  • Car...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 21, 2020

"I have been doing the topical clindamycin lotion for a little over a week, and I'm amazed at how much my skin has cleared. For no real reason, my skin got cluster pimples on my cheeks, jawline, neck, and nothing was helping. I've always had micro breakouts, but nothing like this. After 7 days, I've noticed a dramatic decline in new large, deep pimples. I'm still getting tiny ones, but that's okay. However, I'm about to come off 'that time,' and that's when my skin would normally break out. So, I'll soon find out if it's truly worked. Fingers crossed."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
33 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 13, 2019

"I used clindamycin for 2 days for my acne, and it completely burned my face. My chin and cheek started to peel at first, and my skin is basically raw from the places I put it in. My face is bright red, and it’s impossible to put on makeup or any type of moisturizer to help without it burning so bad. I am so insecure now. I will definitely never be using this product again."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
34 Report
  • man...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 20, 2019

"I was on the topical form of clindamycin for about a year and a half. Within the first month or two of applying it, my cystic acne was gone. I had tried everything, but nothing really worked until my dermatologist prescribed me clindamycin. He also put me on two other medicines to help with it (tretinoin and a birth control); I didn't realize it was this treatment that did the work until I ran out of it. Now that I've stopped using it, my cysts are back. I'm not kidding when I say clindamycin is what fixed my skin."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
34 Report
  • El1...
  • July 27, 2014

"I am a 15-yr-old female, and I have had moderate acne for about two years now. I went to a dermatologist who prescribed me Monodox once a day, Cleocin T gel twice a day, and Atralin gel at night. I am about two weeks in, and I already notice a huge difference, not just in my acne but the overall quality of my skin. At first, I had a major breakout (not sure which gel this is due to) and a little bit of drying and peeling, but my goal was to be clear by the school year, and I am on track! The drying has gone away, and I am so excited for this product! Highly recommended!"

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
57 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.

Learn more about Acne

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)