The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a voluntary recall of six widely available acne treatments due to elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. The agency tested 95 products containing benzoyl peroxide and found that most had undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene. However, six products showed “elevated levels” of benzene.
Benzoyl peroxide is effective in treating acne by reducing inflammation and killing bacteria on the skin. When this ingredient is handled under certain conditions, it can form benzene, a potent carcinogen that has been linked to cancer.
The recalled products include La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment, Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5%, Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator, SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion, Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser, and Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream. The FDA notes that the risk of developing cancer from exposure to benzene in these products is low, but customers are advised to check their products and discard those beyond their expiration dates.
La Roche-Posay has proactively decided to remove its product from retailers due to “minimal traces” of benzene found in one lot. The company will replace it with a new and improved formula, which has been developed since 2024. The FDA is working with the companies involved to ensure that these products are removed from sale online or in stores.
Source: https://people.com/carcinogen-found-in-acne-products-prompting-recall-11697357