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What are the Most Common Uses for Clindamycin Lotion?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Clindamycin lotion is primarily used to treat severe acne and a skin condition referred to as rosacea. Clindamycin is an antibiotic, and the lotion is just one of its forms. When clindamycin lotion is applied to a patient’s skin, it stops bacteria feeding on proteins as they normally would. This slows their growth and prevents them from multiplying.

One of the main uses of clindamycin lotion is for treating severe cases of acne. For this use, the lotion can be applied as the patient's sole acne treatment, or doctors may prescribe it in conjunction with another topical acne treatment or an oral medication. The patient spreads this medication on the affected skin surface, and it fights the bacteria that are contributing to the acne. Unfortunately, clindamycin cannot cure a person’s acne entirely. It can help to improve it, however.

Clindamycin lotion is used to treat acne.
Clindamycin lotion is used to treat acne.

Clindamycin lotion works by interfering with the normal function of bacteria. In order to grow, multiply, and continue contributing to a person’s acne problem, bacteria must feed on proteins. Clindamycin lotion stops bacteria from being able to effectively feed on proteins, which in turn, prevents bacterial growth and leads to improvement of the patient’s acne. Many people start to see improvement in their acne within about six weeks of using this topical medication. In order to maintain a satisfactory level of improvement, however, an acne patient may have to use this medication for an extended period of time.

Clindamycin lotion may be used to treat rosacea.
Clindamycin lotion may be used to treat rosacea.

Doctors may also prescribe clindamycin lotion as a treatment for rosacea. This condition is marked by reddened, inflamed skin as well as small bumps that are filled with pus. As with acne, clindamycin cannot cure rosacea; it can only help to minimize its symptoms. A patient uses this topical medication by cleaning and drying the affected area before applying a thin layer of clindamycin lotion to the skin. An individual may start to see results from clindamycin treatment within about three months, but he will usually have to continue using it for the long term if he hopes to maintain these results.

Doctors may prescribe clindamycin lotion as a patient's sole treatment for acne.
Doctors may prescribe clindamycin lotion as a patient's sole treatment for acne.

When clindamycin lotion is prescribed for its primary uses, most people tolerate it well. Some people do, however, experience side effects when they use this medication topically. Among the possible side effects a person might experience with clindamycin use are redness, dryness, and peeling skin. In some cases, a person may develop itching or burning as well.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

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Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

stoneMason

Can I use clindamycin for papules?

And is there a difference between clindamycin gel, lotion and solution?

SteamLouis

@ddjohn-- I think you should use it.

My main problem is rosacea but I have some acne as well. My skin has improved a lot since I started using clindamycin. My acne is completely gone and the rosacea is doing better.

I've tried other antibiotic and anti-inflammatory topical medications before and none of them worked for me. They were always too harsh and made things worse by irritating my skin. Clindamycin topical lotion is the only one that my sensitive skin doesn't react badly to.

ddljohn

My doctor prescribed clindamycin phosphate lotion for my acne last week. I filled the prescription but I still haven't started using it.

I don't know if topical or oral antibiotics for acne is a good idea. Won't the bacteria adapt to the medication and mutate, making it ineffective eventually?

I want my skin to improve, but not temporarily like that. Who's using clindamycin right now? Is it working for you?

I'll only start using it when I'm sure that it's going to help and not backfire later.

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    • Clindamycin lotion is used to treat acne.
      By: StockPhotosArt
      Clindamycin lotion is used to treat acne.
    • Clindamycin lotion may be used to treat rosacea.
      By: robert mobley
      Clindamycin lotion may be used to treat rosacea.
    • Doctors may prescribe clindamycin lotion as a patient's sole treatment for acne.
      By: Ocskay Bence
      Doctors may prescribe clindamycin lotion as a patient's sole treatment for acne.
    • Oral medication may be used in conjunction with clindamycin lotion.
      By: Pakhay Oleksandr
      Oral medication may be used in conjunction with clindamycin lotion.
    • When clindamycin lotion is applied to a patient's skin, it stops bacteria from feeding on proteins as they normally would.
      By: Konstantin Yuganov
      When clindamycin lotion is applied to a patient's skin, it stops bacteria from feeding on proteins as they normally would.
    • Itching may be a sign of an allergic reaction to clindamycin.
      By: Gina Sanders
      Itching may be a sign of an allergic reaction to clindamycin.
    • Most people can use clindamycin lotion without any negative side effects.
      By: Mikhail Malyugin
      Most people can use clindamycin lotion without any negative side effects.