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Skinformed
Prescription medicineaka clindamycin gel · erythromycin · antibiotic acne gel

Topical antibiotics (clindamycin)

Caution: Prescription, and never soloevidence: strongAAD 2024

Clindamycin is a prescription antibiotic gel for acne. Here's the part the internet skips: dermatologists say never use it by itself. On its own, the bacteria behind breakouts slowly learn to shrug it off (that's antibiotic resistance), so it's paired with benzoyl peroxide, which keeps that from happening. It's a real treatment, but a prescriber's call, not a solo purchase.

what the evidence says

AAD 2024 guidelines recommend topical antibiotics only combined with benzoyl peroxide, never as monotherapy, to limit Cutibacterium acnes resistance.

last reviewed 2026-07-03

can you use it with…

Try any combination in Mix Check →

sources

  1. 1.American Academy of Dermatology · Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (2024)
  2. 2.Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine · Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance in Acne: Epidemiological Trends and Clinical Practice Considerations (2022)

note:Skinformed is general education, not medical advice. It doesn't know your skin, can't diagnose anything, and is no substitute for a clinician. If something on your skin hurts, spreads, or worries you, that's a doctor visit, not a product search.

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