This medication is used to treat acne. It helps to decrease the number of acne lesions. Clindamycin is an antibiotic which works by stopping the growth of bacteria. A randomized, double-blind comparison of a clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide gel formulation and a matching clindamycin gel with respect to microbiologic activity and clinical efficacy in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. Clindamycin phosphate treats acne and bacterial vaginosis by stopping bacterial growth. Learn how it works, its side effects, and who should avoid it. What is clindamycin phosphate? Clindamycin phosphate is a salt of clindamycin that is usually used for injectable or topical formulations of clindamycin. Clindamycin phosphate is a prodrug of clindamycin that is rapidly converted to active clindamycin once inside the body or applied to the skin. Clindamycin topical (for the skin) is used to treat severe acne in adults and children who are at least 12 years old. Clindamycin topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Clindamycin belongs to a class of antibiotics known as lincosamides, and is used to treat bacterial infections including septicemia, pelvic inflammatory disease, abdominal, gynecological, respiratory tract, bone and joint, and skin and skin structure infections. Clindamycin is not suitable for everyone, however, and it can cause a range of serious side effects. This article looks at some uses, dosages, and symptoms of clindamycin. 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. Topical clindamycin is commonly used to treat acne vulgaris. Acne vulgaris is a common type of acne that causes blackheads, whiteheads, and other types of pimples on your skin. Know what Clindamycin Phosphate is used for, how to take it, and which side effects to expect when starting it.