Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical and Stinging: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• September 14, 2008

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "Mild stinging definitely occurs, I felt like I had a sunburn the first few weeks of using this. Also, my face was super dry as a result of this medicine. On the bright side, though, I did see improvement within 2 weeks and that's what counts. So just get a thick moisturizer to reduce the stinging and the dryness and apply about 10 minutes after letting the Benzaclin soak in, then you'll be all set."

• Hhh...
• October 15, 2013

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "My doctor prescribed me this gel for my mild to many spots on my face and back. The first day I applied it, the next morning my face was almost clear of blackheads, and I had noticed an improvement, however, I decided to do what may have been a really foolish thing. I applied it on all of my cheeks and basically most of my face, the parts which rarely had spots on. I woke up the next day to a stinging, bright red face. My skin was so, so dry. It was patchy orange and red, it was half peeling, and it looked like I was wearing patchy foundation."

• May...
• July 3, 2018

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I started to get spots for 2 months. I tried everything to get rid of it, but nothing helped, and it got worse (I only had it on my forehead). The doctor gave me Duac, and at first, it didn't work, and then it went red and started to sting. It's now my 6th, and my acne has gone flat but is brown and peeling. I peeled some, and it's gone. I am so amazed by it, and I can't wait for my skin to get better, inshallah."

• Ham...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2018

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I used this cream for 3 nights, and for the past 72 hours, my face has been red, extremely dry, very tight, and I’ve had a painful burning sensation, and my face can’t seem to cool down whatsoever. For the dryness, I tried a very small amount of moisturizer on an area of my face, and it just burned and stung more :("

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2013

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I applied Duac on my face as instructed, and after 2 days of using it, I noticed that my pimples started to disappear, but the problem is my whole face got swollen, itchy, and red. I can't even sleep and go to school for days. So what I did is visit my doctor again, and he told me that those were the side effects of the product and told me to stop using it. To relieve the stinging and redness, I used an ice pack on my face and put moisturizer non-stop. Luckily, after a few days the swelling and redness disappeared. Thank God my acne disappeared, and since then, whenever pimples appear on my face, I just applied the gel directly on the pimples."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2009

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I went to a new dermatologist because my acne is out of control. I've had acne for 10 years, and this is the worst it has ever been. He gave me Acanya for the morning, and it stings so bad I could cry. My face turns red, it's tight, burning, and not improving. I've been using Acanya for almost a week, I know results might take longer. As for now, I am not happy. Just be warned, it is very drying and can make your day uncomfortable."

• Jes...
• January 21, 2014

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I've only been using this for 4 days so far. I put it all over my face because it says to use on the 'area' that is spot-prone, and all of my face gets spotty, though not at the same time. I have pretty sensitive skin anyway, but this stuff burns! And my face is red raw for the next 3 or 4 hours. I put it on in the evening, and by morning, I'm no longer red and stinging. It has also made me extremely dry and flaky and tight-skinned, which is to be expected, but I can't bear it, so I put on moisturizer almost immediately afterwards, which may be slowing down the process. It hasn't helped my acne yet, but I'm hoping with a little patience and pain tolerance it will do the job!"

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2010

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I've been using it for 3 days now, only at night. I have combination skin normally, and this gel doesn't dry out my skin like other topical creams. My face is clearing up very nicely. By the way, I have cystic acne, and there is no burning or stinging like other reviewers have experienced. Everyone's skin is different, but I would highly recommend trying Acanya."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2012

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "I am 38 and haven't had much of a problem with acne since I was a teenager until I had my first child. After having my now 2-year-old son, my skin just started looking worse and worse, and nothing I was doing was making it better. I even bought a Clarisonic (made it worse). So I went to the dermatologist, and she gave me Acanya and said to use it once a day. This is only my third day using it, and the difference is dramatic already. Not every single bump and mark has cleared up yet, but I would say 50-70% of my acne is already gone or almost gone. Yes, it does sting a little, I try to not use too much and hope I get used to this or my skin adjusts. Either way, I love this product and can't believe I didn't go to a dermatologist sooner."

• GBO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2018

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "Suffered from very bad cheek spots, no drug store face cleansers worked. Went to the doctors, and they prescribed me this - within 2 weeks, they were near enough gone. An absolute godsend, my confidence is back and my skin is clear. I get the odd breakout and reapply, and they're down within 2 days. It's so worth it. Stings for the first few days while skin gets used to it."

• Abb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2015

For Acne "Compared to before! It's great, but just a warning: if you don't wash your hands right away, go to sleep with it still wet on your face, it will fade colors of things. Also, wash your hands right away and don't wipe them on a cloth towel, it will stain that. Use paper! And it may sting your face if you have open acne, but it will go away in 5-10 mins!"

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2016

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "Tried this twice, have really bad hormonal acne and was prescribed this by my GP, completely dried my skin out and it hurt to use anything but simple face wash on it, stung and itched a lot and made my dermatitis so much worse. That was last year, gave up on prescribed treatments until 2 months ago, again was given Duac even after describing my first experience with it. Have used it for 6 weeks now, skin has adjusted to drying but has done nothing for my acne, still have as many breakouts if not worse."

• Con...
• July 4, 2016

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "Very effective from the beginning! Although I came across a few side effects - redness, dryness, peeling of skin - this cream completely eliminated most of my acne. I particularly found it astonishing that over the space of a few months my cysts had decreased - in size - dramatically. They'd shrink and leak until they vanish, usually not leaving any scars, only marks - which will fade over a period of time. When my skin was feeling painful due to the side effects - stinging at night - I'd stop using Duac for a couple of days and moisturize up. Once the side effects decreased slightly, I'd go back on it. I took Duac alongside the antibiotic erythromycin - however, I didn't find that drug effective."

• lov...
• January 25, 2012

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "This product is amazing! I have gone through one bottle and am on to my second. It stings a little at first, but then it goes away. My skin is the clearest it's ever been. I have tried everything from homemade remedies to high-end expensive products, and nothing has worked for me the way Acanya has."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2021

Benzoyl peroxide / clindamycin topical for Acne "Here is my experience on Duac. I didn’t have bad acne while on this, I had a few spots here and there. While using this for 3 days, I saw a difference, but while on this cream longer, my face became very red, itchy, blotchy, and stinging. I called the doctor, and they said this was normal. I continued using this, and it’s made my skin, all in all, 100,000% worse than it’s ever, ever been. It’s made me break out in ridiculous acne, spots, and blackheads. I have more spots now using this than I did beforehand. I have now stopped using this for 3 weeks, and my skin is still worse than ever. Please, please, if you don’t have serious acne, then do not use this gel! It’s as if my skin is in a constant rash. Hope this helps you!"

• Kat...
• October 27, 2009

For Acne "I just started using the benzoyl peroxide gel, and it is clearing up my skin and evening my skin tone, though around my chin area (most of my acne is here) is EXTREMELY dry. I barely use any of it, but it still burns, stings, and flakes. I hope it gets better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2018

For Acne "This stuff does wonders! It takes a few weeks to get used to it as it dries your face so much. For the first couple of weeks, my face was very dry, flaky, tight, and it stung when I put it on my face. Even with a good moisturizer, it was still dry. Persevere!!! It gets better. Immediately saw improvements with fewer breakouts and redness improved."