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U.S. lab detects carcinogen in some topical acne treatments
U.S. testing company Valisure found that acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide can produce "unacceptably high levels" of benzene in both prescription and over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide acne treatment products when they are exposed to hot temperatures. This could occur when the products are kept in a hot car, for example, or stored in a bathroom when a warm shower is running.
Valisure has also filed a petition with the FDA to recall the affected products, conduct an investigation, and revise industry guidance.
Benzene was detected in Estee Lauder's Clinique, Target's Up & Up, and Reckitt Benckiser-owned Clearasil products, as well as Proactiv, PanOxyl, Walgreens' acne soap bar and Walmart's Equate Beauty acne cream, among others, according to Valisure.
A colorless or light-yellow liquid at room temperature, benzene is a known human carcinogen. It's commonly used as a solvent in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Trace amounts can be found in cigarette smoke, gasoline, glues, adhesives, cleaning products, and paint strippers.
Benzene has also recently been detected in sunscreens, hand sanitizers and other consumer products. However, this incidence in benzoyl peroxide acne products is more serious, according to Valisure’s Co-Founder and President David Light who stated: “This discovery of benzoyl peroxide’s fundamental instability and formation of benzene is substantially different than Valisure’s previous findings of benzene in sunscreens, hand sanitizers and other consumer products. The benzene we found in sunscreens and other consumer products were impurities that came from contaminated ingredients; however, the benzene in benzoyl peroxide products is coming from the benzoyl peroxide itself, sometimes at hundreds of times the conditional FDA limit. This means the problem broadly affects benzoyl peroxide products, both prescription and over-the-counter, and necessitates urgent action.
Sources:
(2024, March 6). Reuters. Cancer-causing chemicals found in Clinique, Clearasil acne treatments, US lab reports. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cancer-causing-chemical-found-some-acne-treatments-us-lab-reports-2024-03-06/
(2024, March 6). Valisure. News Release. Valisure Discovers Benzoyl Peroxide acne treatment products are unstable and form benzene. https://www.valisure.com/valisure-newsroom/valisure-detects-benzene-in-benzoyl-peroxide