Topical clindamycin is used to treat acne. Clindamycin is in a class of medications called lincomycin antibiotics. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria that cause acne and by decreasing swelling. Clindamycin is an antibiotic drug used in place of penicillin. It comes in oral, injectable, suppository, lotion, cream, and gel forms, depending on the use. Clindamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic, is used to treat a number of infections including some skin and soft tissue conditions. It may be available as a topical, oral, and intravenous preparation. Clindamycin topical side effects Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Clindamycin topical may cause serious side effects. Stop using clindamycin topical and call your doctor at once if you have: severe redness, itching, or dryness of treated skin areas; or severe stomach pain, diarrhea. Learn about the benefits of using clindamycin for acne treatment, and some of the potential side effects and drawbacks of this topical antibiotic. Pharmacokinetics Following multiple topical applications of clindamycin phosphate at a concentration equivalent to 10 mg clindamycin per mL in an isopropyl alcohol and water solution, very low levels of clindamycin are present in the serum (0–3 ng/mL) and less than 0.2% of the dose is recovered in urine as clindamycin. Find patient medical information for Clindamycin topical (Cleocin T, Clindagel, and others) on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings, and user ratings Clindamycin Topical is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of acne vulgaris. Clindamycin (Cleocin-T) is a topical antibiotic that is used to treat mild to moderate acne. When combined with other acne medications like benzoyl peroxide or retinoids like Retin-A, it can work quite well to treat acne. It's also available in many different formulations like lotion, gel, and solution. Description Clindamycin belongs to the family of medicines called antibiotics. Topical clindamycin is used to help control acne. It may be used alone or with one or more other medicines that are used on the skin or taken by mouth for acne. Topical clindamycin may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor. Clindamycin is available only with your doctor's prescription.