Clindamycin / tretinoin topical and Acne: What Users Say

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2020

For Acne "I hope this review gives someone hope. I am in my early 40s and have had horrible acne my whole life. I've really tried almost everything. I tried Biacna (same drug, but different name in Canada) before, and hated it. My skin broke out horribly. But the second time trying on the urging of my doctor, I stuck with it the next time. Skin broke out again like crazy for about two weeks (the worst I ever saw). I told my doctor, he saw how awful my face looked, but still begged me to stick with it for another month. I did. I hid mostly inside my house for about a month because the acne got so awful. But, about 2 months into using it every day, my skin cleared up - it's like all the acne that was happening on my face all cleared up almost all of a sudden. I am now (knock on wood) about 3 weeks without any significant or visible acne on my face!!!! Please do yourself a painful favor. Stick with it for at least 2 months before giving up on this one."

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2020

For Acne "I hope this review gives someone hope. I am in my early 40s and have had horrible acne my whole life. I've really tried almost everything. I tried Biacna (same drug, but different name in Canada) before, and hated it. My skin broke out horribly. But the second time trying on the urging of my doctor, I stuck with it the next time. Skin broke out again like crazy for about two weeks (the worst I ever saw). I told my doctor, he saw how awful my face looked, but still begged me to stick with it for another month. I did. I hid mostly inside my house for about a month because the acne got so awful. But, about 2 months into using it every day, my skin cleared up - it's like all the acne that was happening on my face all cleared up almost all of a sudden. I am now (knock on wood) about 3 weeks without any significant or visible acne on my face!!!! Please do yourself a painful favor. Stick with it for at least 2 months before giving up on this one."

• cur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2020

For Acne "So... I had unproblematic skin for the past 4 years after using my birth control, Diane 35. In March 2020, I decided to switch to an IUD instead of my combination pill, the progression of my skin slowly but surely led to me having acne. I would say at the end of July, I was prescribed the clindamycin/tretinoin gel to use nightly. Unfortunately, I would use it on and off, and for this type of gel, PLEASE do not use it on and off, or it will not work and your skin will have to repurge. So I currently am heading into my 10th week on the gel, and it is still a process. I have scars and just a few pimples reappearing. If I could recommend anything, it's to make sure you check in with yourself and stay positive. Acne is normal, and you are still beautiful with or without it. I'm hoping that within the new year, my skin will be clear again, but I'm learning that taking care of my inside is just as important as my outside. Best of luck to everyone on their acne journey!"

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2018

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I promised if this ever worked for me I would write a review. I’ve read these reviews over and over again to stop myself from giving up. Now on week 10, and my skin is almost perfectly clear. Do NOT GIVE UP. Weeks 3-6 were the worst for me, and I thought it would never work. Slowly, but surely, it does work. Fight through the breakouts and don’t worry. Give it its full 3 months before tossing it. You will not regret. Simplify your skin care routine. I only used face wash and moisturizer in the morning with Ziana (Biacna in Canada) at night. This has fixed everything and is clearing up my scars. Good luck."

• jam...
• June 10, 2008

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I have been using Ziana for about nine months. I will admit I was extremely frustrated in the beginning because my face seemed to be worse than it was before. But nine months later, my face is acne-free. I will occasionally get a tiny, tiny pimple, but it will usually go away in a day or two. My confidence is back where it needs to be, and although the wait was frustrating, it was worth it."

• Mya...
• August 6, 2015

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I wanted to post a review of this product to help others who are struggling with acne and/or first starting this medication. I know when I first started Ziana about 2 months ago, I was looking through all the message boards I could to find reviews on what the experience was like for people! I am 20 years old and have mild acne and clogged pores. Nothing else I tried would get rid of my pimples. I started Ziana, and yes, it does get worse before it gets better. I had moderate acne and tons of little tiny zits showing up all over my cheeks. The medication was bringing all my clogged pores and acne to the surface. This lasted about 3-4 weeks until I started noticing a significant change. Now, after only like 2 months, my skin is almost perfect."

• Red...
• January 18, 2017

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "The first week, my skin got very dry and patchy. It peeled a good bit. The second week, my skin broke out worse than it ever has, and I started getting really discouraged that it wasn't working, and I felt like it had made my skin worse. I am now about to finish up my third week, and my skin is really clearing up well. I would say be patient with this product and give it one full month, and you will begin to see results. The method I use is washing my face, patting it dry, putting on a moisturizer, waiting about 10-15 minutes, then applying the Veltin only on the acne spots. This has seemed to work best for me."

• lon...
• May 12, 2015

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "This gel will make you break out like crazy in the first few weeks. I never broke out that much to begin with, it got me so worried. I kept using it, and weeks passed by. It's over a month, it cleared up my skin and my scars. I am so happy my face is clear, it works really well. Anyone who is using Veltin should give it a chance, be patient with it, it will clear up."

• Emi...
• June 14, 2020

For Acne "I’m from the UK, and our version of this clindamycin/tretinoin gel is called Treclin. I have been using Treclin since late January 2020. I was frustrated with these tough acne spots that I kept getting. I like the texture of Treclin, as it’s a dewy gel. The first week I used Treclin, my skin was fine, however, as time went on, my skin began to break out like crazy. It was purging so much, I realized my skin was worse than before. As time went on, I also began breaking out in areas I don’t get acne: my forehead and chin. March and April were the worst months for me. It did ruin my confidence, as my skin was so bad. BUT in May, I purchased a new gel, as after the 3-month mark, it stops working. I can now say that in the month of June, my skin has improved greatly! I still have acne marks, but they are starting to fade. In the past month, I’ve only got maybe 1-3 spots, and that’s it. This gel really works, but you have to endure the purging stage."

• Fir...
• August 24, 2017

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I've been using this for about 2 and a half weeks now. I initially broke out significantly, but now that has calmed down along with my acne in general. I do still get some small zits here and there, but they quickly subside or stay very small. My skin also peeled a lot and has dried up, but I can see that gradually improving as well. The scarring has gotten slightly better, but I'm liking what I'm seeing so far overall."

• nas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2017

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I have been using Veltin for a few months for acne, layers of skin, and ingrown hairs. It is the best topical treatment I've ever used. Anyone serious about their skin has to go through the time of having ugly cystic acne come out. The reason some people don't give it 10 stars is that you break out initially, but if you are educated about skin, then you know you have to break out first for your skin to get better. I have been very depressed because my face got so bad I looked like a different person and still do, but Veltin is helping me get my face back."

• Dus...
• March 11, 2017

For Acne "Okay, so I've been on Biacna (the Canadian version) for almost a month and a half now. I'm in the process of breaking out and experiencing dryness from the product, but after reading the reviews, I'm hopeful that in a few weeks the change will begin. I've struggled with acne since high school (I just turned 20), so it's been really annoying to constantly worry and be self-conscious about how my skin looks. My acne, to begin with, is somewhat mild, so the gel is causing all these tiny bumps to form mostly on my cheeks and forehead. I'll post an update on my skin in a few weeks to let you know if it works for me."

• Vin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2016

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I'm 18 and started Ziana about 6 months ago. My acne got so much worse for about 2 weeks, and my skin peeled for a couple of months (use face lotion!), but as of now, my acne is just about gone, a few occasional spots, and some peeling still, but that's okay! This stuff really works, but patience is key! As usual with a person, stress makes you break out at this age, so the medication doesn't really stop that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2013

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I'm 15 and started using this around January 2013. I had mostly acne on my forehead, nowhere else. It cleared it up really well, and I had clear skin for about 3 months. Then summer started, and my hormones started acting up, and I broke out a ton on my cheeks and sort of on my forehead. I know it's not Veltin's fault, but I am taking minocycline pills with the Veltin now. All I have to say is Veltin is great, don't stop using it. It also cleared up my back acne."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2017

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I went to a dermatologist back in November. He prescribed me Ziana. I started out by using it daily, and it caused me a little redness, but it went away. It also made me break out a little when I first started using it. I think that was one of the side effects. But anyways, it's now January, and my face is looking so much better. I only have a bit of scars, but besides that, Ziana helped me out a lot, and I would recommend this to other people struggling with acne. I also took before and after pictures, and I love how my skin is looking."

• Pen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 14, 2021

For Acne "So I started using this over a year ago (I'm in Canada, so its name is Biacna, but it’s the same thing). The first month, I did apply 3x/week, and my acne got really bad, it was getting itchy, and I was getting breakouts like I did in my pre-teen years! So I changed up my whole routine, turned to Cetaphil normal skin cleanser, and used moisturizer with SPF and serum from CeraVe in the morning, and at night I used moisturizer every time I wasn’t using the cream. Oh my goodness, 2 months after that I could already see a M A J O R difference, I didn’t see my acne was that bad until I saw it improving! After that, I used it every night, but if my skin was getting flaky, I stopped it until it became okay! It’s been maybe 3-4 months I’ve stopped using it and only used it when I started to see some breakouts. My skin is not perfect because now I fight against acne scars, but my pores are empty and no big cysts on the face, yayyy."

• Anonymous
• May 6, 2009

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "Just started using Ziana about a month ago on face, neck, and chest. My face has been doing great, but my neck and chest have been breaking out like crazy. I think this may be because I get regular facials and extractions, but not on my neck or chest, so there is a lot to purge. I am liking what I am seeing on the face so far. Still break out, but it seems like it is getting better. I am going to stick with it and see where it goes, will update if anything changes."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2011

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I have been using this for about a month and a half. It dries my skin out and I need to moisturize about 5 times a day opposed to twice. My face will get clear and then break out again. I'm still waiting on results."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2018

For Acne "After reading all the reviews, I'm very unsure what to do. I was prescribed Treclin by my doctor. I've been using the gel for 6 days now, and my face has broken out so badly. Did it sting anyone else when putting the gel on? I feel as though my face is getting worse and not better. I don't know whether to go to my doctor or to stick it out and hope for the best...."

• Gur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2017

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I originally had mild pustular acne. I used Veltin for 5 weeks before giving up. My face became red, weeping, stinging, and covered in cystic acne while using it. I used it once a night as prescribed and would use Cetaphil lotion on my face morning and night to try to hydrate my skin. It got to the point where I did not want to go to work because of comments. Just putting water on my face made me cry. Within 2 weeks of stopping, my acne is back to mild and my face is healing with 2 scars from where it was peeling and weeping."

• Ara...
• March 9, 2015

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "When I first started using Ziana, I only had acne in between my eyebrows, chin, and the nose area. My acne worsened while using it, and then it got better. But after about 4 months of using it, it became ineffective. So I now have acne between my eyebrows, chin, cheeks, forehead, and the nose area. It's great at first, but after a while, it made my face even worse than before I used the product."

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2017

For Acne "So far, I love this product! I've had mild but persistent acne for years. After finishing one round of Accutane and seeing minimal results with terrible side effects, I decided to stop treatment. Soon after, my acne came back again with a small amount of cystic acne but many, many small red bumps all over. Finally, my derm gave me Clindamycin 1.2% and Tretinoin 0.025% gel. After one and a half months, I see great improvement! I recommend the gel, it leaves a nice, smooth finish. I BARELY had an initial breakout, which is uncommon for me. Yes, I did break out, but nothing worse than how it was before. It is drying, so I highly suggest using it every other night and using it as a spot treatment on very dry days. About 60% of my acne is already clear!"

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2017

For Acne "So far, I love this product! I've had mild but persistent acne for years. After finishing one round of Accutane and seeing minimal results with terrible side effects, I decided to stop treatment. Soon after, my acne came back again with a small amount of cystic acne but many, many small red bumps all over. Finally, my derm gave me Clindamycin 1.2% and Tretinoin 0.025% gel. After one and a half months, I see great improvement! I recommend the gel, it leaves a nice, smooth finish. I BARELY had an initial breakout, which is uncommon for me. Yes, I did break out, but nothing worse than how it was before. It is drying, so I highly suggest using it every other night and using it as a spot treatment on very dry days. About 60% of my acne is already clear!"

• Fit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2015

For Acne "I started using Biacna in combination with the pill Diane-35 for acne in August 2015. My skin started getting horrible when I was about 17.5 - 18 years old, and I had only ever had small acne breakouts occasionally before then. After a year and a half, I began using tea tree oil, which cleared my acne for a short period of time, but it returned again this spring full on (I'm now 21). When I began Biacna, I experienced HORRIBLE initial breakouts - extremely inflamed, worse than any I've previously had, and left me with dark purple, almost black scars on both cheeks. I just hit the 3-month mark, and my acne literally vanished within the past week. My skin is almost flawless now, with the exception of my scars, which are fading. Thank God for this!!"

• Anonymous
• June 5, 2019

Clindamycin / tretinoin topical for Acne "I have been using Veltin for about 5 weeks now. At first, I was worried when I started using it because it made me break out across my forehead. Luckily, the pimples were small and not severe. My skin has adjusted to the medicine, and although I still have some pimples, I’m pretty happy with the results. I’m going to continue to use this product throughout the summer."