How Long Does Clindamycin Take to Work for Acne? Answering 6 Common Clindamycin FAQs

Whether you’re an adolescent or an adult, acne is frustrating to deal with. Thankfully, there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription treatment options that can help manage breakouts. The best option for you depends on your type of acne.

Topical antibiotics — such as clindamycin (Cleocin-T, Clinda-Derm, Clindagel) — are effective treatment options for many people. Clindamycin is FDA approved to treat acne, but it’s best at treating inflammatory acne (pimples) specifically. A healthcare professional may also prescribe it to treat cystic acne, which causes breakouts deep in the skin. Clindamycin comes in a variety of topical forms, including a gel, lotion, and liquid solution.

When you pick up your clindamycin prescription from the pharmacy, you might have questions about your new medication. A natural one is: How long does it take for clindamycin to work? We’ve got you covered on this and your other top questions about clindamycin for acne.

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1. How long does clindamycin take to work for acne?

Topical clindamycin usually starts working about 1 day after you begin applying it. But it takes time to start noticing visible benefits. Research shows it can take about 6 weeks to start seeing improvement in your acne. That’s why it’s important to give it time to start working.

Your dermatologist and pharmacist can help answer any questions about how long it takes for clindamycin to work.

Good to know: Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic. It works by stopping acne-causing bacteria from growing. It also lowers inflammation.

2. How long does it take to see full effects from clindamycin?

Clearer skin is likely your goal if you’re experiencing acne. It can take up to 12 weeks (3 months) to see the full benefits of topical clindamycin. For the best results, stick with your treatment plan and try to be patient.

Also remember that you’ll typically want to use topical clindamycin along with other acne medications to get the most benefits. More on this in just a bit.

Keep in mind: Oral clindamycin isn’t often a first-choice medication for treating acne. Doxycycline (Doryx) is a different oral antibiotic that experts prefer for managing acne. Antibiotic resistance is also less of a concern with doxycycline than oral clindamycin. 

3. Are there factors that can affect how long clindamycin takes to work?

Yes, applying clindamycin correctly is a big factor that affects how long clindamycin takes to work.

Wash and dry your skin before applying clindamycin. Apply a thin layer to the affected area twice daily (or as frequently as your dermatologist recommends). You’ll also want to apply clindamycin to the skin near the acne. This helps prevent new pimples from popping up.

You can typically apply different topical acne products at the same time. Many products even come combined with clindamycin. More on this shortly. But you’ll want to avoid cleansers that contain alcohol. These can cause skin irritation — potentially making your acne worse.

You should also avoid popping your pimples. This can cause clindamycin to not work as well for your acne. It also raises the risk of getting an infection. Avoid scrubbing your skin too hard, too, since this can cause irritation.

Good to know: The sun’s ultraviolet rays can also worsen or cause acne. If you’re taking part in outdoor activities, make sure to wear sunscreen, wear a hat, and find some shade to protect your skin. Other acne medications you may be using might also increase the risk of sun sensitivity when you first start using it. That includes topical retinoids like tretinoin (Retin-A).

4. What can you expect when starting clindamycin for acne?

Topical clindamycin is well tolerated overall. But you may experience certain skin-related side effects. For example, you might notice some burning, redness, or dryness. Skin peeling and oily skin are also relatively common.

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The good news is these should get better as you get used to the medication. Once clindamycin starts working, you should notice fewer pimples. You should also notice less redness, and reduced swelling at the affected areas.

5. Can you combine clindamycin with other acne treatments?

Experts actually do not recommend using topical clindamycin on its own; the bacteria causing the acne could become resistant to the medication. Experts recommend combining clindamycin with other medications to treat acne.

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical, go-to acne medication that can work together with clindamycin to prevent antibiotic resistance. Benzoyl peroxide is conveniently available OTC at most local pharmacies and supermarkets. You can also find benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin combined together under brand-names such as Acanya and Onexton. Keep in mind you’ll need a prescription from your dermatologist for these products.

Adding on a topical retinoid to clindamycin is another effective option. These come as stand- alone or combination medications, such as:

• Adapalene (Differin)

• Tretinoin

• Clindamycin / adapalene / benzoyl peroxide (Cabtreo)

• Clindamycin / tretinoin (Ziana, Veltin)

• Tazarotene (Tazorac)

• Trifarotene (Aklief)

Ask your dermatologist about the best medication(s) to combine with topical clindamycin. 

6. How long do you need to take clindamycin for acne?

It’s best to limit using acne antibiotics like clindamycin to 3 months. This helps prevent resistance. Some research suggests that using topical clindamycin for 16 weeks (4 months) caused a 16-fold increase of resistant acne bacteria.

After finishing your course of topical clindamycin, it’s a good idea to stick with benzoyl peroxide, a topical retinoid, or both. These work to maintain your results from clindamycin. You can use these long term to prevent and manage acne. This helps prevent your acne from returning or getting worse. Together with your dermatologist, you can decide on the best acne treatment plan for you.

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Written by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

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