The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall of several widely used acne medications. The recall was initiated after a third party lab detected elevated levels of benzene in numerous acne products. Subsequently, the FDA performed its own testing and confirmed the findings. However, the FDA’s testing results indicate fewer products with benzene contamination than the third-party’s findings.
What Is Benzene and Why Is It Harmful?
Benzene is a dangerous chemical linked to cancer. It is a naturally occurring chemical found in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Additionally, It is widely used to manufacture other chemicals, such as plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, rubber lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides
Benzene is classified as a known human carcinogen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and American Cancer Society. Long-term exposure to benzene, especially through inhalation or skin contact, can lead to leukemia and other blood disorders.
Why Benzene Appears in Acne Products
Acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide are widely recommended by dermatologists to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. However, benzoyl peroxide can break down into benzene over time. This breakdown can occur during manufacturing, storage, or when the product sits unused in a warm environment.
Products Recalled
The FDA tested 95 benzoyl peroxide products and found elevated benzene in six. The recalled products include:
- La Roche‑Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment
- Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser
- Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream 5%
- Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator
- SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion
- Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream
- Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel
A complete list of products with lot numbers and expiration dates can be found here.
What Consumers Should Do
Notably, the FDA maintains its position that the risk of cancer from these recalled products is very low. Therefore, the recall is being conducted only at the retail level, not the consumer level. This means that although the FDA has instructed retailers to remove products from store shelves and online marketplaces, the agency has not instructed consumers to take action regarding recalled products in their possession.
However, users can check lot numbers and expiration dates on their products. Products with applicable lot numbers and expiration dates may be thrown away immediately.
