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. Clindamycin Phosphate is the phosphate salt form of clindamycin, a semi-synthetic, chlorinated broad spectrum antibiotic produced by chemical modification of lincomycin. Clindamycin phosphate is used in topical preparations. 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. 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. 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. Discover clindamycin phosphate, a versatile medication for bacterial infections. Learn its uses, how it works, side effects, and key precautions for safe treatment. Description Clindamycin is used to treat bacterial infections. This medicine may be given to patients who had an allergic reaction to penicillin. Clindamycin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. 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. 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.