Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Biacna.
Application: Avoid contact with the eyes, eyelids, corners of the nose and mouth, easily irritated areas, or other areas where treatment is not intended. If contact does occur, wash with plenty of lukewarm water. Do not apply clindamycin - tretinoin to severely inflamed skin or to open lesions. Do not use more of Biacna than recommended by your doctor. Doing so will not speed up treatment and will irritate your skin.
Colitis: When applied to the skin, clindamycin is absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause colitis (inflammation of the colon). Contact your doctor immediately if you experience abdominal pain, cramps or bloating, severe watery diarrhea that may be bloody, or nausea and vomiting.
Other acne medications: Other acne medications and skin preparations should not be used at the same time as clindamycin - tretinoin, as it may cause increased skin irritation. If severe irritation occurs, stop using Biacna and contact your doctor.
Overgrowth of organisms (super-infection): Prolonged or repeated use of Biacna may allow certain types of bacteria, that are not killed by the antibiotic, to overgrow, causing unwanted infections. Bacteria that used to be susceptible to clindamycin may also overgrow, causing acne to return and not respond to Biacna. Contact your doctor if you notice your acne worsening or you develop red or irritated patches after you have been using Biacna for a while.
Skin irritation: Some people may experience temporary skin irritation, especially in early weeks of treatment. If excessive reactions occur and the skin becomes extremely red, swollen, and crusted, the medication should be stopped and you should contact your doctor.
Sunlight exposure: Exposure to sunlight, including ultraviolet sunlamps, may cause more irritation. Avoid or minimize this type of exposure while using tretinoin. If you cannot avoid exposure to sunlight, use sunscreen products (minimum SPF 30) and wear protective clothing over treated areas. If you get a sunburn, stop using Biacna until skin redness and peeling resolves.
Pregnancy: Biacna is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Women who may become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control while they are using Biacna. If you become pregnant while taking Biacna, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if clindamycin - tretinoin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Biacna, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Biacna have not been established for children less than 12 years of age.