How does Treclin gel treat acne?

There are two active components in Treclin:

Clindamycin is an antibiotic that kills the skin-residing bacteria which causes acne.
Tretinoin helps the skin shed dead skin cells.

They work together to cure acne symptoms including redness, pustules, papules, pustules, and blackheads. Administered together, these two ingredients are more effective than many other stand-alone treatments.

How quickly will Treclin treat acne?

Treclin gel often takes a few weeks of consistent application to start working, much like the majority of topical acne treatments. It’s usually recommended to use the gel for 10–12 weeks, and you must continue using Treclin even after your acne clears up.

Treclin alternatives

Acnecide is an over-the-counter alternative to Treclin acne gel which contains benzoyl peroxide. The majority of pharmacies sell benzoyl peroxide as an effective acne treatment. It aids in the elimination of acne-causing bacteria, but it is not an antibiotic. Treclin gel shouldn’t be used in conjunction with antibiotic-containing treatments or any other medications containing benzoyl peroxide.

Prescription alternatives to Treclin gel include:

Topical antibiotics: Dalacin-T, Zineryt
Retinoids: Differin
Combinations: Duac gel, Epiduo
Antibacterial: Skinoren

Sources

Treclin gel Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.5371.pdf

How to apply Treclin

Use Treclin once daily at nighttime. Before use, use warm water and mild soap to thoroughly wash your face, and towel dry. Apply a pea-sized quantity of the gel with one fingertip to the chin, cheeks, forehead, and nose, then gently rub it over your entire face.

Unless advised to do so by your GP, do not take Treclin for more than three months. Never take two doses, even if you’ve missed a previous dose.

Does Treclin go out of date?

Treclin’s shelf life is stated on the outside of the packaging. Treclin loses its effectiveness three months after being opened.

Treclin gel ingredients

Every gram dose of Treclin gel contains:

Active ingredients:

10 mg (1%) clindamycin (as clindamycin phosphate)
25 mg (0.025%) tretinoin

Inactive ingredients:

Treclin side effects

Like all medications, Treclin gel may produce side effects in some individuals. These include dry skin, irritated skin (including stinging or burning), and peeling skin most of which are most likely to occur during the first few weeks of using Treclin. After a few weeks, these side effects usually go away. Other side effects are listed below.

Rare side effects (1 in 10,000 people):

Hypothyroidism
Gastroenteritis
Macular rash
Skin burning sensation
Application site erosion or discoloration
Skin depigmentation
Nausea
Eye irritation
Headache
Dermatitis
Herpes simplex
Skin bleeding
Hypersensitivity

Uncommon side effects (1 in 10,000 to 1 in 1,000 people):

Ensure you read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before using Treclin gel.

Treclin warnings

Treclin gel is only for use on skin and should not be used internally. You should avoid getting the gel on your eyes, eyelids, nostrils, and lips.

Treclin should not be used in patients who:

have suffered hypersensitivity to clindamycin and/or tretinoin or any of the excipients or lincomycin
have regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or a history of any antibiotic-associated colitis
have a personal or familial history of skin cancer
have experienced acute eczema, rosacea, or perioral dermatitis
have pustular and deep cystic nodular acne varieties

Special warnings and precautions for use:

Treclin is not for oral, ophthalmic, intranasal, or intravaginal use
Treclin is not recommended in the treatment of mild acne
Treclin should not be used during pregnancy
Contact with the mouth, eyes and mucous membranes and injured skin should be avoided
If any Treclin Gel gets into contact with your eyes, wash them with warm water immediately
Several other topical clindamycin products have been linked to antibiotic-associated colitis. Treclin is unlikely to cause this since plasma levels have been determined and percutaneous absorption of clindamycin is not clinically significant.

Stop using Treclin immediately if you experience persistent diarrhoea or stomach pains — these symptoms may indicate antibiotic-induced colitis.

If you experience any discomfort or irritation, stop using the Treclin completely, or cut back on your usage.

Treclin should not be used in combination with other topical medications, including cosmetics, due to the possibility of incompatibility.

Take extra care when using keratolytic agents such as sulphur, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or resorcinol

You should avoid using any cleaners or scrubbing agents that dry out the skin. Additionally, you should avoid abrasive soaps, cosmetics, and spices. The use of lime should also be limited.

Treclin Gel therapy may also cause photosensitivity, so exposure to sunlight should be minimised and protective sunscreen should be applied.

Treclin shouldn’t be used on sunburnt skin.

With other antibiotics such as lincomycin or erythromycin, cross-resistance can occur.

Tretinoin increases the permeability of other topical pharmaceuticals.

Treclin and fertility, nursing, and pregnancy

The treatment should only be used by women capable of bearing a child if effective contraception is used when applying Treclin, and for 4 weeks after use.

It’s important to note that there’s a lack of data regarding the use of Treclin by pregnant women. However, a small number of pregnancies exposed to clindamycin during the first trimester suggest that the drug has no negative impact on pregnancy or the health of the baby or newborn.

In rat and mouse trials, clindamycin administered orally and subcutaneously was not shown to be teratogenic.

Treclin should not be taken by pregnant women or those who may become pregnant, especially during the first trimester.

The effects of tretinoin and clindamycin and the release of breast milk after using Treclin haven’t been properly investigated yet. Consequently, it’s not recommended that women who are breastfeeding use Treclin.

Taking tretinoin orally has been shown to adversely affect fertility. However, data regarding fertility after topical administration in humans is limited.