Clindoxyl and Benzaclin Gel for Acne

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are prescription-only acne gels in Canada — you can’t buy either one over-the-counter the way you can a benzoyl peroxide face wash. The reason is what’s mixed into them. Alongside benzoyl peroxide, each one contains clindamycin, an antibiotic that needs a prescription and a doctor’s oversight.

These two products are also, for the most part, the same medication sold under different names. Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are both topical gels that combine clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide for moderate acne (the same goes for the Taro generic). Clindamycin is an antibiotic that targets acne-causing bacteria, and benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial agent that clears pores.

This article explains what Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are, how clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide work together, and how the brands differ. We also cover how well these two products treat acne, how to use them, the side effects, and what they cost in Canada.

An Overview of Clindoxyl and Benzaclin

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are brand names for a topical gel that combines two acne-fighting ingredients: clindamycin (an antibiotic) and benzoyl peroxide (an antibacterial). It’s a prescription medication, approved by Health Canada for moderate acne vulgaris, the kind with blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed papules and pustules. The same combination is also sold as Clindoxyl ADV and as a Taro generic.

All of these brands share the same active ingredients, but they aren’t quite identical. The original Clindoxyl Gel (clindamycin 1% / benzoyl peroxide 5%) has recently been discontinued by its manufacturer, though pharmacies may still have stock. Clindoxyl ADV (a gentler 3% benzoyl peroxide version), Benzaclin, and the Taro generic remain available.

Improvement with Clindoxyl and Benzaclin tends to build over several weeks rather than days. Because these products contain an antibiotic, a doctor will usually keep a course to a few months rather than leaving you on it indefinitely, which helps reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Every version needs a prescription, so the starting point is a conversation with a doctor or pharmacist.

Clindoxyl vs Benzaclin: Similarities and Differences

For most purposes, Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are interchangeable. They use the same type of antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide, and have the same role in treating moderate acne. The differences are practical ones, such as how often the gel is applied, how it’s prepared, and how it’s stored.

• Dosing: Benzaclin is applied twice daily, morning and evening, while Clindoxyl and Clindoxyl ADV are applied once daily.
• Strength: Clindoxyl ADV uses a gentler 3% benzoyl peroxide, while Benzaclin and the Taro generic use 5%.
• How it’s prepared: Benzaclin comes as two parts (a benzoyl peroxide gel and a clindamycin powder), and the pharmacist combines them when the prescription is filled. Clindoxyl and Clindoxyl ADV arrive pre-mixed in a tube.
• Storage and shelf life: Once mixed, Benzaclin is stored at room temperature and used within three months. Clindoxyl is kept refrigerated by the pharmacy until it’s dispensed, then used within 60 days.
• Availability: The original Clindoxyl Gel (clindamycin 1% / benzoyl peroxide 5%) has been discontinued in Canada, though some stock may remain on shelves. Clindoxyl ADV, Benzaclin, and the Taro generic are the versions on the market now.

Which version of clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel a doctor prescribes often comes down to availability, cost, and how easily your skin gets irritated.

How Clindoxyl and Benzaclin Work

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin pair two ingredients (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide) in a combination that Canadian guidelines recommend as a first-line treatment for moderate acne.

• Clindamycin is an antibiotic that lowers the amount of Cutibacterium acnes (the bacteria involved in acne) on the skin by blocking the bacteria’s ability to make the proteins they need to grow. It also helps calm the inflammation behind red, sore breakouts.
• Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial that kills the same acne bacteria by releasing oxygen that damages them. It also helps clear away the dead skin and oil that block pores and contribute to acne.

How the Combination Reduces Antibiotic Resistance

When antibiotics (like clindamycin) are used for an extended time, a few bacteria adapt and become resistant to the treatment. When these resistant bacteria multiply, the antibiotic eventually stops working. A topical antibiotic used on its own for acne tends to lose effectiveness this way.

Fortunately, benzoyl peroxide works differently. It kills acne bacteria directly, and those bacteria don’t develop resistance to it the way they can to an antibiotic. Just as important, benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria whether or not they’ve already become resistant to the clindamycin — clearing the resistant ones out before they can multiply and take over.

Having the two ingredients paired in Clindoxyl and Benzaclin means the clindamycin (antibiotic) keeps working longer than it would alone. It doesn’t remove the risk of resistance entirely, but it keeps it in check. This is why a topical antibiotic isn’t recommended on its own for acne treatment.

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin for Acne: What to Expect

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are intended for moderate acne — the mix of blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed, pus-filled pimples that gentler products often can’t clear on their own. Neither is meant for severe, cystic acne (the deep, painful nodules under the skin).

In clinical trials, the combination worked better than clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide used on their own, and most people can expect a meaningful drop in inflamed pimples over the first couple of months. Improvement often starts within a few weeks, with fuller results by around 10 to 12 weeks. The treatment works best when applied consistently across the whole affected area, rather than dabbed on individual spots.

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin treat active breakouts. By bringing inflammation under control early, though, they can help limit the marks and scarring that acne leaves behind, but neither is a treatment for scars that have already formed. Fading existing acne scars or dark marks usually calls for different treatments.

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin vs Other Acne Treatments

Depending on the type of acne and how sensitive the skin is, a doctor might suggest a few treatments. Here’s how the clindamycin–benzoyl peroxide combination compares to the most common acne creams and gels.

Azelaic Acid (Finacea) vs Clindoxyl and Benzaclin 

Azelaic acid contains no antibiotics, tends to be gentler than Clindoxyl and Benzaclin, and can be used long-term. Clindoxyl and Benzaclin is often more effective against inflamed, active acne. The two aren’t an either/or choice. A doctor might reach for Clindoxyl or Benzaclin to bring active acne under control, then switch to gentler azelaic acid to maintain it, or start with azelaic acid when a milder, antibiotic-free option makes more sense. For more information, see our guide to Finacea (azelaic acid).

Tretinoin vs Clindoxyl and Benzaclin

Tretinoin is a retinoid, and it’s usually a better choice than Clindoxyl and Benzaclin for stubborn blackheads and whiteheads (with the bonus effect of smoothing fine wrinkles). Because tretinoin and clindamycin–benzoyl peroxide treatment address different parts of the process that causes acne, they can actually be used together. For more information about retinoids for skin care, see our guide to tretinoin cream in Canada.

Tactupump vs Clindoxyl and Benzaclin

Tactupump pairs benzoyl peroxide with a retinoid (adapalene) rather than an antibiotic, so it suits longer-term use and has been studied specifically for reducing acne scarring. Clindoxyl and Benzaclin, which pair benzoyl peroxide with an antibiotic instead, often work a little faster on inflamed, active acne, but are meant for shorter courses. Both Tactupump and Clindoxyl/Benzaclin outperform benzoyl peroxide on its own, so the choice usually comes down to whether a retinoid or an antibiotic is the better partner for your skin. See our guide to Tactupump (adapalene–benzoyl peroxide) for more information.

How to Use Clindoxyl and Benzaclin

The steps below reflect Health Canada’s product information, but always follow the regimen your own doctor or pharmacist gives you.

• How much, how often: After washing with a mild cleanser and patting the skin dry, apply a thin layer of gel (about a pea-sized amount per area) across the whole area that tends to break out. Clindoxyl and Clindoxyl ADV are used once a day; Benzaclin should be applied twice a day. Wash your hands afterward.
• Keep going: Acne treatments work gradually, so keep applying the medication as prescribed even once the skin starts to clear, rather than stopping at the first sign of progress.
• How long you’ll use it: Because they contain an antibiotic, Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are used in courses rather than indefinitely. A doctor will usually review treatment after a few months and may switch you to benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid to keep skin clear over the longer term.
• Mind the bleaching: Benzoyl peroxide can bleach hair, towels, pillowcases, and clothing. Let the product dry before it touches fabric, and consider using white bedding and towels while you’re using it.
• Protect against sun: Benzoyl peroxide can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so apply a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and skip tanning beds and sunlamps.
• If it irritates: Some dryness, peeling, or stinging is common early on after starting Clindoxyl or Benzaclin. A gentle moisturizer, cutting back to less-frequent application, or pausing for a day or two usually helps more than stopping outright.

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin Side Effects and Safety

Side effects from Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are usually mild, affecting the skin where the product is applied. The most commonly reported side effects are:

• Dryness
• Redness
• Peeling or flaking
• Stinging or itching

These are usually mild, tend to be most noticeable in the first few weeks, and ease off as the skin gets used to the treatment (a gentle moisturizer can help). There’s no recognized “purge” with Clindoxyl or Benzaclin. The early redness or peeling some people notice is ordinary irritation, not a sign that the medication is forcing breakouts to the surface.

More serious reactions are rare. But because clindamycin is an antibiotic, it can occasionally upset the gut, even when only applied to the skin. If you develop significant or lasting diarrhea during treatment, stop and contact a doctor. Clindoxyl and Benzaclin also aren’t recommended if you’re allergic to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, or lincomycin, or if you have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or a history of antibiotic-associated colitis. Neither has been established as safe for children under 12.

In pregnancy or while breastfeeding, Health Canada’s product information advises using Clindoxyl or Benzaclin only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin Cost, Coverage, and Access in Canada

What Clindoxyl and Benzaclin cost, and whether any of it is covered, depends on your province, pharmacy, and insurance. Here’s the general picture, followed by specifics for British Columbia.

Cost

As a rough guide, a tube of Clindoxyl or Benzaclin generally runs about $30 to $40 before the pharmacy’s dispensing fee, with the Taro generic at the lower end. There’s no single national price, so treat any figure as approximate and confirm the current cost with your pharmacy. 

Insurance and BC Coverage

Coverage for Clindoxyl and Benzaclin varies by province and by plan. In British Columbia, this combination generally isn’t covered by BC PharmaCare, so most people pay out of pocket unless a private or workplace plan includes it. It’s worth checking your own plan before filling the prescription.

How to Get Clindoxyl or Benzaclin in Canada

Both Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are prescription-only, so the first step is to see a doctor. You can see your family physician, visit a walk-in clinic, or if you’re in BC, speak with an online doctor at Walk In.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clindoxyl and Benzaclin

Is there a generic version of Clindoxyl and Benzaclin? Taro makes a generic clindamycin 1% / benzoyl peroxide 5% gel. This is the same formulation as Benzaclin and the original Clindoxyl Gel (not ADV), usually at a lower price.

What’s the difference between Clindoxyl and Clindoxyl ADV? Clindoxyl ADV uses a gentler 3% benzoyl peroxide instead of 5%, which can suit more sensitive skin. Both contain the same 1% clindamycin.

Can I use a moisturizer and my usual skincare? A gentle, non-irritating moisturizer is fine to use with Clindoxyl or Benzaclin, and often helps with the early dryness. Go easy on harsh scrubs, astringents, and other strong actives while your skin adjusts. Also, be sure to run your skincare routine past your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

Can I use Clindoxyl or Benzaclin with tretinoin? Doctors sometimes prescribe a retinoid alongside a clindamycin–benzoyl peroxide treatment, as they tackle different parts of acne. How and when to combine acne treatments is a conversation to have with your doctor.

Is Clindoxyl or Benzaclin Right for You?

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin are two brands of the same acne gel, both containing a combination of clindamycin (antibiotic) and benzoyl peroxide (antibacterial). They are a well-established treatment for moderate acne, especially when inflamed pimples are the main problem. The antibiotic and antibacterial combination tackles breakouts on two fronts, while minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Clindoxyl and Benzaclin aren’t the right fit for everyone, though. Neither is designed for severe, cystic acne, nor for fading scars that have already formed. The antibiotic they contain is also meant for defined treatment courses rather than ongoing use. For milder acne, or when a gentler, antibiotic-free approach makes sense, an option like azelaic acid or a retinoid may suit you better.

Which treatment makes sense comes down to the kind of acne you have and how your skin tolerates it. A doctor can help you weigh up Clindoxyl, Benzaclin, and the alternatives, and adjust the plan if your skin needs it.

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