Treclin Gel

What is Treclin and what’s used for?

Treclin is a gel with two active ingredients: clindamycin (an antibiotic) and tretinoin (a retinoid). It’s typically used to treat acne, but doctors sometimes use it off-label for other skin conditions that can cause acne-like breakouts. When a clinician prescribes a medication for something it wasn’t officially approved for, it’s called off-label prescribing. But this practice is based on their experience, solid evidence and what best suits their patient’s needs.

One of the skin conditions Treclin can be prescribed off-label for is folliculitis. This is when hair follicles get inflamed due to infection, chemicals, or injury. Bacterial folliculitis, which is a bacterial infection causing red swelling and sometimes pustules, might go away in a week or two without treatment, but it could turn into boils (painful, pus-filled lumps on the skin) if not treated.^{1]

How does Treclin work for folliculitis?

Treclin has two active ingredients: clindamycin (as phosphate) and tretinoin. Both of these are effective on their own, but they’re even more effective when used together. This is in part because, when used together, tretinoin helps clindamycin get absorbed better into your skin, making the treatment more effective.^{2]
Clindamycin phosphate is inactive as such, but your body converts it to clindamycin, an antibiotic that stops the growth of the bacteria causing folliculitis by stopping the production of proteins. It also stops the skin inflammation caused by the infection.^{3]

The second ingredient, tretinoin, a retinoid, works in two ways to keep your folliculitis in check:

1. As a comedolytic agent, which means that it has the ability to prevent or decrease the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and clears clogged pores by limiting the buildup of sebum^{3];
2. Has anti-inflammatory activity^{3]{4] to help alleviate the swelling, redness, and pain associated with inflammation.

How to use Treclin for folliculitis

Your clinician will tell you exactly how to use Treclin gel for folliculitis, but typically you’ll be advised to apply a pea-sized amount of the gel every night before bedtime on the affected skin areas for up to three months. So here’s how to do it:

1. Wash the affected skin gently with mild soap and warm water.
2. Pat your skin dry.
3. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of gel onto your fingertip.
4. Dab it on your affected skin areas and spread it evenly.

How long does Treclin gel take to work?

Treclin gets to work pretty fast on your skin, but it might take a few weeks or even months (up to three) until your folliculitis has completely cleared. You should let your clinician know if after a couple of weeks your folliculitis hasn’t improved or is getting worse. If you’re using our service, simply log into your account and send us a message. Our clinical team may suggest alternative treatments for you.

Are there different forms of Treclin?

Treclin is only available as a 1% / 0.025% gel. Each gram of gel contains 10 mg (1%) of clindamycin (as clindamycin phosphate) and 0.25 mg (0.025%) tretinoin. It comes in tubes of 30g, 60g, or 90g gel.