Clindamycin topical and Burning: What Users Say

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2019

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I thought I'd share my experience with clindamycin vaginal cream, as many of the other reviews, well, haven't been exactly great! I have been using this for BV for the last 5 days, I have 2 more days left to use it. At first, I was a bit scared after most reviews said there was severe burning, which is what put me off the most. I just want to put it out there that I haven't had any burning pain or side effects from using this cream at all. My BV symptoms went away after the first dose, and I have been using it at the same time before bed every night. So, don't let the bad reviews put you off trying it because the side effects don't apply to everyone. I have given it a 9/10, because even though my symptoms have gone for now, I don't know if they will return or not."

• Acn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2017

For Acne "I am an 18-year-old teenager. Yes, I know acne loves to pop up during the teenage years, but I've had it for more than 5 years. It was really hard for me to be confident when my face is covered in pimples. The only clear spot I have is my temples. After my doctor suggested Clindacin, I was shocked. It burned right when I applied it, but that's only because my pores were open. I've been using this for about a week, and I've seen major results. My acne has shrunk, and some even disappeared! Believe me or not, but my confidence grows a step higher every time I see one pimple disappear. I still don't have a clear, spotless face yet, but that's because it's a month-long process. I'm only one week into the treatment. I hope this helped! :)"

• Aly...
• March 1, 2016

For Acne "I used to have acne when I was younger, then after having my son, my skin cleared up. I would get the occasional pimple associated with PMS. Then all of a sudden, my skin went bananas! I was breaking out all over my jawline, neck, and chin, and they were cystic and hurt very much. I felt uncomfortable and very insecure at 37 years old. I thought my days of hiding due to acne were over. I've been using it for a week now, and it has cleared up my skin so much. I have to mix it with benzoyl peroxide as well. The only downside is it dries the skin and burns a bit, but the results are amazing!!"

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2019

For Acne "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."

• NNi...
• April 27, 2017

For Acne "I started to have a lot of small acne again after I was off Benzamycin for around half a year. I was then prescribed Doxycycline, Clindamycin, and Retinol at the end of February. Hearing that Doxycycline might cause side effects, I decided not to take it. While starting Retinol and Clindamycin, I was peeling, burning, and breaking out like crazy. I wore a mask for a whole week when I went to work because I couldn't put makeup on, and it looked terrible. After two weeks of pain, I finally gave up Retinol and only used Clindamycin. In two weeks, my acne started clearing up. Now, it has been a month, and my skin is 95% cleared. I really like this medication because it's not dry at all. (Maybe because my skin is used to it already.) Give it a try!"

• Rad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2018

For Acne "I used this gel for 3 months, and the result is very positive. At the beginning, I had a burning sensation, which irritated me too much, but remember the idiom, sabr ka fal mitha hota hai (There is a sweet fruit at the destination of every journey), and now I have no pimples. But one thing, if you stop this treatment and do not look after your face, then pimples will come back - this is my experience. Otherwise, the product is very good."

• Hel...
• October 9, 2018

For Acne "I have been using clindamycin gel with CeraVe face wash for a few days now. I have inflammatory, hormonal acne all over my face. The only area that it is not on my face is around my eyes where sunglasses would cover. It's on my cheeks in full, chin, around my mouth, my forehead, and beside my eyes. It is also on my back. I am a 31-year-old female. This gel has already helped reduce the redness and acne after just a few days. My face has calmed down. I have the type of acne that clears up with oral antibiotics too, but I can't be on that for a variety of reasons: pregnancy and breastfeeding, etc. I am not sure how this will pan out over several months; I hope to come back and update. This did dry my lips, but that recovered after a few days. Get some chapstick. There was a slight burn when beginning this RX. I do use facial moisturizers regularly. I also was able to put makeup on top of this in the morning to wear to work, and it worked out fine."

• 17...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2015

For Acne "I've started and still am taking this medicine 12 weeks ago, along with minocycline. The fourth week I was using it, I thought it got worse, but I kept with the product, and over time I saw a major improvement from the first day I took it. It burned and dried out my face the first week, but after that my face was fine. Most of my acne is either gone, light red, or scars, so I'm going back to the dermatologist next week to see what they can do about it. I definitely recommend this product!"

• ArI...
• May 11, 2011

For Acne "I have 'backne,' and this product works pretty well at keeping it from flaring up. My dermatologist recommended it over products such as Differin since it's so easy to spread -- even if you have hair back there. I don't notice any dryness or stomach problems. It does burn the first couple of times you use it, but that goes away. If you apply it to your back, make sure you also get some kind of tool to reach back there (unless you're lucky enough to have a significant other that will apply it for you). My dermatologist gave me a long stick with a pad on it."

• I...
• December 11, 2021

Clindamycin topical for Bacterial Vaginosis "I took Clindesse 14 days ago, and it has made my life a living nightmare! OMG, the side effects have been severe for me. I inserted it in the evening on a Sunday, and by mid 4 PM Monday, I started to feel irritability. Prior to the medicine, I did not have itching or a burning sensation. My vagina felt like it was on fire. I went to the restroom, and I saw the thickest cottage cheese-like discharge. My vulva was swollen as well. I went online to see side effects, and boom, I experienced the majority of them. The attending clinic where I had been treated and diagnosed hasn’t been responsive in scheduling an immediate follow-up. Meanwhile, it’s been 14 days, and the discharge has gone from intense to mild, but it is still present. Because I can’t take over-the-counter meds, I have been holistic to soothe my vulva from the chafing, burning, itching, and swelling. I miss my balanced pH vagina prior to BV."

• Tan...
• October 1, 2019

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I inserted this last night, and it's been burning and itching ever since. Tonight, the burning and itching are so bad that I feel like going to the emergency room. I feel like someone poured acid in my vagina. I don't even know how I'm going to get any sleep tonight. Why would my doctor even take a chance at prescribing this for me?"

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2012

Clindamycin topical for Bacterial Vaginosis "It worked very well on my condition. No awful side effects, since I expected the burning sensation after reading the information about it. I only had problems keeping the ovule in, since it appears to get stuck in the applicator."

• JoJ...
• November 15, 2017

For Acne "I'm a 31-year-old mom of three and had been experiencing the worst acne of my life for the past year. I've always had acne off and on since a teen, but the past year I had cystic acne along my chin line and under my jaw like nothing else. Painful. Embarrassing. My doc prescribed this in the liquid form that you pat on. I use it nightly or every other night (along with a RX benzoyl peroxide cleanser first). One month down and acne cleared up almost immediately. I will continue using for maintenance, of course. I'm sensitive to Retin-A, this stuff, though, never leaves my skin dry or burned like Retin-A did."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2017

Clindamycin topical for Bacterial Vaginosis "This med was prescribed to me 3 months ago for vaginal 'E. coli.' I did not have any symptoms at all of b.v. or 'E. coli' until I used it! I have had extreme issues! A shingles outbreak the days after using it, burning, itching, swelling, oral and vaginal yeast infection. My immune system has been severely low, and I cannot seem to get better. This med ruined my life! I went to the doc feeling normal, but after using Clindesse, I feel like I have AIDS! I was tested last year, and I was negative, so now 3 months later, and my body is all messed up. Worst med I have ever taken!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2018

For Acne "I've used the benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin cream for 7 days, and I officially quit!!! I can usually tough out any initial side effects, but the way my skin burns after applying moisturizer (because it dries the heck out of my skin - seriously, my skin is red and scaly on my upper lip) is unbearable!!!!! I've never felt such a painful burn on my face in my life :("

• Fir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2018

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I was asked to use the ovules for three days. Right after insertion (best done by finger), it burns a lot for the first 15-20 minutes, then it calms down. I thought it was an allergic reaction, but after reading these posts, it seems like it’s a side effect. Symptoms seem to be getting better, but I’m also taking another oral antibiotic, so I’m not sure which medicine is the effective one. If there is an alternative to this medicine, I would opt for that to avoid that awful burning sensation."

• Rea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2019

For Bacterial Vaginosis "LISTEN. It's 4 a.m. & I'm wide awake because my va jayjay is itching up a storm!!!!! I'm on day 2 of this & already over it. The only good thing about it is the smell is now nonexistent... for now. But, I can't take this itching/burning sensation. It's beyond me! I just wanna know why my doctor prescribed this cream to me, this is awful!"

• Unr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2018

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I have never had BV before in my life, now that I had it once, I get it every couple of months. I have done the Metrogel before many times. 7 days to only have a raging thrush afterward. My doctor finally prescribed me this as I just had a hysterectomy and had everything removed minus ovaries, and I'm left with a vaginal cuff that isn't healing well. Once my stitches were gone, she gave me this after Flagyl didn't work either. This time around, I have stayed heavy on my probiotics, I took 5-day cream and took my Diflucan on day 3. I have had zero issues with burning. Only achiness the first few days, which I get from BV. I'm 7 days post-meds and it feels great. Really thinking it worked."

• Thi...
• May 12, 2017

For Bacterial Vaginosis "So. I had been treating as a yeast infection for well over a year when my gyno appt. revealed otherwise. So far day 3 of 7. Only a small amount of itching. Few cramps and slight burning today. But all minor. I tried metrogel last year, and that is what did not work for me. Gave me horrible pain and a raging yeast infection the next day. But it says that these creams give you a yeast infection. It is an antibiotic. I always get them just looking at antibiotics. So if things change for the worse, I'll update. Otherwise, I expect a good outcome."

• Fig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2022

Clindamycin topical for Bacterial Vaginosis "If you get the ovule three-day treatment, it stays inside of you and is just as effective, if not more, compared with the 7-day cream treatment. I just finished a three-day ovule treatment for the first time trying clindamycin for BV, and the side effects are so much less intense than metronidazole. People talk about a burning, but it goes away after the first day for the most part. People also might find it important to know that with the three-day ovule, 30 percent of the medicine is absorbed systemically, while the cream 7-day treatment, only 5 percent is absorbed. So it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. Do you want to get it over with and resolved in three days and possibly have more side effects, or use it every day for 7 days? Keep in mind that is twice the amount of time, I personally didn’t find many noticeable side effects from the ovule. I think because compared with metronidazole, Cleocin is a walk in the park. Can’t believe I used metronidazole for so many years."

• Bba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2019

For Bacterial Vaginosis "So I was diagnosed with BV (bacterial vaginitis), and I started on Flagyl, then my doctor prescribed me the clindamycin cream. Everything was going fine: no smell, no discharge, no problems until after the last day I took it. Then the itching and burning were terrible. I was constantly running to the bathroom because my vagina was on fire, it’s sensitive to the touch and irritable. These aren’t even the symptoms I had before starting the medicine. I called my doctor to have a follow-up appointment, hopefully everything’s gone, and it’s just a side effect, but that itching and burning were like nothing I experienced before. It has my anxiety through the roof!"

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2011

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I am on the vaginal ovule. This is my second time around. The first one didn't treat it. One of the side effects is that it causes your monthly cycle to mess up. The ovule triggered my cycle to start a week early, so I started on the second day. I don't think I got the full effect of the first pack. I don't like the terrible burning sensation they cause either."

• Now...
• October 24, 2016

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I've been using this for two days, and I've been itching and burning. I was prescribed because I thought I might have had a yeast infection, but the doctor said it was bacterial. My only symptom was a little discharge, but now I'm worse off than I was."

• acn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2015

For Acne "My derm gave me this along with minocycline. I had it in the strongest strength and as the topical solution. Stopped using going into 2 weeks because all it did was cause severe redness and irritation and made my pimples bleed (I never even popped them or anything). My skin looked horrible. I broke down the whole next week until my skin went back to normal. PS - It burns like heck."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2016

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I got my first case of BV and was prescribed clindamycin cream for five nights. It did nothing to treat the infection. It caused me even worse pain, burning, and spread the infection so I contracted a UTI. On to Macrobid now for that. The cream is messy, stings, and dries everything out. I still tested positive for BV after the cream, so was switched to oral Flagyl. Flagyl took the burning away within 12 hours. I should have gone with Flagyl the first time around."