The Application of Clindamycin for Acne

The antibiotic Clindamycin has been found to give very good and quick results, with the clearing of the skin rapidly of acne pustules and spots. In turn this helps prevent the long term acne scarring that is so dreaded with this skin condition. However, problems have been encountered by the skin acting as a physical barrier, which inhibits the penetration of Clindamycin. Also, sebaceous glands release sebum into the follicular canal, creating a plug of skin cells and fat, this also restricts the follicular penetration of topical acne preparations like Clindamycin.

Similarly, research by Drs. Gaurav K Jain and Farhan J Ahmed, Department of Pharmaceutics, India in their studies, found the application of clindamycin alone showed low penetration into the skin follicles because of the presence of the outer layer of the skin the stratum corneum and the restricted follicular penetration. However, because of its properties, adapalene selectively penetrates into the skin follicular ducts. In addition, adapalene slows skin sloughing and draws out sebum from the follicular ducts.

The application or the pretreatment of skin with adapalene, promotes sebum drainage that then allows the follicle to function and permit high concentrations of clindamycin to penetrate the skin pores and readily reaching the deeper skin layers. So the pharmaceutical properties of adapalene, to enhance the absorption of clindamycin into the skin, make it a good choice as an acne treatment. Adapalene aids the follicular absorption of clindamycin, thereby enhancing its effects in the skin.

The application of clindamycin after a treatment of the skin with adapalene for 5 minutes, may contribute significantly to the increased efficacy of the therapy. This combination of acne medicaments, shows a dramatic effect of reducing acne spots and pustules. Also, as an extra bonus, the clindamycin had a longer lasting effect on the skin, with its antibacterial properties on the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, known for causing acne spots and blemishes. Also, no side effects were noted with this combination therapy. This is another very useful piece of research, to add to the growing numbers of evidence based treatments for acne vulgaris.