ArticleThe Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology2012
Efficacy and Safety of Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2% and Tretinoin 0.025% Gel for the Treatment of Acne and Acne-induced Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation in Patients with Skin of Color.
Article in The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparative efficacy of clindamycin phosphate with benzoyl peroxide versus clindamycin phosphate with adapalene in acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Pooled it
- Treatment of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation in Skin of Colour: A Systematic Review.Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgeryPooled it
- Clinical implications of skincare: lessons from placebo-controlled dermatology trials.Skin health and disease · 2026Review
- Treatment of Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation Following Acne With Microneedling and Panax Ginseng-Derived Exosomes.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Acne-induced Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: From Grading to Treatment.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2025Review
- Review
- Acne Vulgaris in Skin of Color: A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness and Tolerability of Current Treatments.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2022Article
- Effects of Topical Retinoids on Acne and Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation in Patients with Skin of Color: A Clinical Review and Implications for Practice.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2022Review
- Dermatology: how to manage acne in skin of colour.Drugs in context · 2022Review
- Efficacy of a New Non-drug Acne Therapy: Aloe Vera Gel Combined With Ultrasound and Soft Mask for the Treatment of Mild to Severe Facial Acne.Frontiers in medicine · 2021Article
- Updates in the understanding and treatments of skin & hair disorders in women of color.International journal of women's dermatology · 2017Review
- Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2%/Tretinoin 0.025% Gel for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Which Patients are Most Likely to Benefit the Most?The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2015Article
- Updates in the understanding and treatments of skin & hair disorders in women of color.International journal of women's dermatology · 2015Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of a topical gel containing clindamycin 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025% for the treatment of acne and acne-induced postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in darker skinned patients.
designRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
settingTwo United States clinical sites.
participantsThirty-three patients 12 years of age or older with skin types IV to VI, mild-to-moderate facial acne, and PIH were enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Patients applied clindamycin phosphate/tretinoin gel or a nonmedicated vehicle each evening and a sun protection factor 30 sunscreen daily. Changes in skin erythema and hyperpigmentation were measured using a chromameter and photographic images. Efficacy was assessed using the Evaluators Global Acne Severity Scale, lesion counts, Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Severity Scales and Patient's Global Assessment Scale. Safety and tolerability were assessed by adverse event reports and a Safety Assessment Scale.
resultsThe mean (SD) baseline inflammatory lesion count was 11.9 (11.1) in clindamycin/tretinoin-treated patients, decreasing by 5.5 (6.56) after 12 weeks while the mean baseline inflammatory lesion count was 13.6 (11.15) in placebo-treated patients, decreasing by 4.1 (11.36) (p=0.05 for change from baseline, clindamycin/tretinoin vs. placebo). Clindamycin/tretinoin-treated patients generally demonstrated superior efficacy versus placebo treatment. The clindamycin/tretinoin topical gel was well tolerated, causing little or no irritation, although one patient withdrew due to periorbital edema of moderate severity possibly related to clindamycin/tretinoin gel.
conclusionAlthough limited by small sample size, the results of this pilot study suggest clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025% topical gel is a safe and effective option for treating mild-to-moderate acne in patients with skin of color.
Identifiers
22798973PMC3396458W1574466243What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.