Buy Treclin Gel for Acne | Superdrug Online Doctor

About Treclin gel

What is Treclin?

Treclin is a gel used for the treatment of acne on the face. It contains 2 active ingredients: an antibiotic called clindamycin, and a retinoid called tretinoin. This combination is particularly effective at reducing spots and treating symptoms such as redness and inflammation.

How does Treclin work?

Treclin works because of its active ingredients clindamycin and tretinoin.

Clindamycin can reduce the growth of bacteria known to cause and make acne worse. It can also reduce inflammation.

Meanwhile, tretinoin normalises the growth of skin cells, which helps the skin to shed as normal. Blocked hair follicles are a common cause of acne. Tretinoin helps unblock these. Tretinoin can also prevent the build up of sebum, the natural oily substance that coats your skin. When you have too much sebum, you are more likely to get white and blackheads.

How long does Treclin last?

Treclin will usually be prescribed for 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of your acne. You should complete the full treatment as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop treatment early even if your acne seems better.

How long does Treclin take to work?

Treclin should start to work straight away, but most people see improvements in their acne after a few weeks.

How effective is Treclin?

Treclin has been found to be effective at treating acne, especially compared to clindamycin alone.

How to use Treclin

You should apply a small amount of Treclin gel all over your face. Do this once daily, before you go to sleep.

You will typically use Treclin gel for about 10 weeks, but usually no longer than 12 weeks.

How to apply Treclin gel

Make sure your face is clean and dry before you apply Treclin gel. Wash your face with water and a mild cleanser (if your skin is not irritated by this) beforehand, then pat it dry with a towel.
Clean your hands before (and after) using the gel.
Squeeze a pea sized amount of Treclin gel on your finger.
Dab the gel on your chin, nose, cheeks, and forehead before gently spreading it over your face. Avoid contact with your eyes, mouth, and nostrils.

Never apply more than this or use Treclin more than once daily. This won’t make it work faster. It is more likely to cause side effects like burning or irritation.

How long do you need to take Treclin for?

Most cases clear up with several weeks of treatment but it may take up to 12 weeks for Treclin to work. The exact amount of time it takes will depend on your acne symptoms.

Speak to your doctor if your acne symptoms don’t improve or if they get worse once this time has passed.

Where can I buy Treclin?

You can get a prescription for and buy Treclin online from regulated providers, like Superdrug Online Doctor. You cannot get Treclin gel over the counter.

You may be able to get Treclin on the NHS. However, you will need to make an appointment with your GP. If you use Superdrug Online Doctor, you can complete an online consultation in your own time instead without visiting your GP.

Can I buy Treclin online?

Yes, you can get Treclin online from Superdrug Online Doctor. Before prescribing it, we will make sure Treclin is the most suitable treatment for your acne. To do this, we will ask you to answer a few questions about your symptoms and upload photographs of your acne. A doctor will review this.

If Treclin is right for you, your medication will be delivered to your home in discreet packaging. Alternatively, you can also choose our Click & Collect service and collect your medication from your nearest Superdrug Pharmacy. Same day delivery may be available depending on what time you place your order and when this is approved.

Can I buy Treclin over the counter?

Treclin is not available over the counter since it contains 2 active ingredients. It must be prescribed by a doctor.

You may be able to find alternative acne treatments that don’t require a prescription. However, these may not be as effective.

Can I get Treclin on the NHS?

Yes, your GP may prescribe Treclin gel if they think you could benefit from it. You may also be prescribed a similar gel treatment or a combination of a gel and an antibiotic tablet.

Treclin side effects

Treclin can have some side effects, although this is uncommon. When you first start using the gel, you may feel a slight irritation or burning on your face. This should go away once your body gets used to the treatment. However, this can suggest that you are using too much gel so check that you’re using the recommended amount when you apply this. Speak to your doctor if Treclin is causing any unwanted side effects that bother you too much.

If you have a severe allergic reaction to Treclin, go to A&E or call 999. Do this if you experience:

difficulty breathing
swelling in the face or mouth
rash

Uncommon side effects of Treclin include:

dry skin
acne
redness
itching
rash
sunburn
scaling of the skin

Rare side effects of Treclin include:

headaches
irritation in or around the eyes
hypersensitivity
weight gain, tiredness, weakness, and hair loss as a result of an underactive thyroid gland
a high temperature or hot flashes
gastroenteritis, an inflammation of your gastrointestinal tract
nausea (feeling sick)
inflammation, discolouration, bleeding, or burning of the skin
other skin irritation
cold sores

How long do Treclin side effects last?

Treclin side effects should only last for a few weeks until your skin gets used to the medication. Speak to your doctor if they last longer.

What to do if you get Treclin side effects

If you get mild side effects and they do not bother you too much, wait until they go away on their own. If Treclin causes severe redness, irritation, or burning, wash the gel off your face and speak to your doctor as soon as you can.

Treclin warnings

Treclin may not be suitable for everyone. Certain medical conditions or medications could interact with Treclin gel. This could make it less effective, or potentially unsafe to use.

Before using Treclin, speak to your doctor if you have any allergies, take any medications, or have any medical conditions. If you order Treclin through Superdrug Online Doctor, we will ask about these as part of our online consultation.

Contraindications

You should not use Treclin if you:

are pregnant or planning to get pregnant
are allergic to any ingredients in Treclin, especially clindamycin or tretinoin
are allergic to lincomycin
have either acne conglobata and acne fulminans
have other inflammatory skin conditions, such as folliculitis
have rosacea
have acute eczema*
or a family member has ever had skin cancer
have a history of colitis and you used antibiotics to treat this
have a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s

*If you have atopic eczema and you would like to use Treclin, speak to your doctor.

If you typically get prolonged or significant diarrhoea or stomach cramps, speak to your doctor.

While using Treclin, you should:

use some form of contraception, if you are a woman and can have children
avoid sunbeds, limit your time in the sun or cover your skin, and use an SPF of 30 or more (if your face gets sunburnt, stop treatment until this has fully healed)

Medications that interact with Treclin

If you take any medications, speak to your doctor before using Treclin.

This is particularly important if you take:

any topical treatment for your face
any preparation that contains chemical abrasives, such as resorcinol, sulphur, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid
cleansers or soaps that have a strong drying effect
antibiotics, such as erythromycin
corticosteroids
neuromuscular blocking medicines, such as muscle relaxants
blood thinning medications, such as warfarin

Treclin alternatives

If Treclin is not suitable or does not work for you, there are other acne treatments that Superdrug Online Doctor can offer. These include antibiotics or tablets that can kill the bacteria which cause acne, or other topical treatments.

If you are not sure which treatment is best, you can book a consultation with one of our doctors.

Treclin vs Finacea gel

Finacea gel is used to treat mild to moderate acne. It should be applied twice daily. Finacea gel contains the active ingredient azelaic acid, which can kill the bacteria that cause acne. It is also an anti-inflammatory, so it can reduce swelling and redness from acne spots.

Treclin vs Lymecycline and Epiduo Combo

Lymecycline and Epiduo combo is a combination treatment for acne. It consists of a capsule and a gel you apply to your skin. Epiduo gel is a topical treatment that reduces swelling and redness while Lymecycline is an antibiotic that fights the bacteria which causes acne.

Treclin vs Doxycycline and Epiduo Combo

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that is prescribed to treat more severe acne. Like Lymecycline, it reduces the bacteria that cause this. It works well with the topical treatment Epiduo gel to reduce acne symptoms.

Treclin vs Zineryt

Zineryt is an effective treatment for mild acne and whiteheads. Like Treclin, Zineryt is a topical solution though it contains a different antibiotic that reduces acne-causing bacteria, erythromycin. It should be applied twice daily to the skin, for 10 to 12 weeks.

Treclin vs Aknemycin Plus

Aknemycin Plus is used to treat mild to moderate acne. Like Zineryt, it contains the antibiotic erythromycin. It should be applied to affected areas of the skin 1 to 2 times daily. Aknemycin Plus is typically used for 9 to 12 weeks.

Sources

Acne (2019) NHS (accessed 01 June 2022)

Clindamycin 1.2% Tretinoin 0.025% Gel versus Clindamycin Gel Treatment in Acne Patients (2011) PubMed (accessed 01 June 2022)

Treclin 1%/0.025 % w/w Gel (2019) EMC (accessed 01 June 2022)

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Reviewed by: Dr Babak Ashrafi in line with the Superdrug Online Editorial Process.

GMC no. 6077866

Dr Ashrafi studied at King’s College London and specialises in cardiology, diabetes, and stroke medicine.

Last reviewed on: 26/10/22