Topical clindamycin can be used to treat very inflamed forms of severe acne, including cystic and nodular acne. It can also be used on inflamed pimples that are hard to treat but not severe.

Clindamycin and erythromycin are both superior to placebo at decreasing acne lesion counts. Comparison of erythromycin 2% gel with clindamycin 1% solution in a 12-week, randomized, parallel-group ...