A Carcinogen Was Found In Popular Acne Products—Here’s What It Means for You

Over the past few years, the public has gotten annual scares about benzene in beauty products. Elevated levels of the known carcinogen have popped up in products ranging from dry shampoos to sunscreen. The latest occurrence is in acne products containing benzoyl peroxide. And while this sounds scary, know that it's not as bad as it sounds.

"It is important to note the recalls are being conducted at the retail level, not the consumer level," reads a press release from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "This means retailers are instructed to remove products from store shelves and online marketplaces but does not specifically instruct consumers to take actions regarding products currently in their possession. Even with daily use of these products for decades, the risk of a person developing cancer because of exposure to benzene found in these products is very low."

Benzene wasn't intentionally added to these products—it appeared as a byproduct during production or degradation. "While benzene is not intentionally being added to skin-care products, it can end up in them in the form of a contaminant or as in the case of benzoyl peroxide, as a result of the breakdown of the ingredient," says dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick.

The agency states that it tested 95 acne products containing benzoyl peroxide for possible benzene contamination, initiated by independent testing following receipt of third-party testing results conducted by Valisure, Sales & Deals Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet. It's not yet clear what methods the FDA used to conduct its own testing, but the press release states that the agency intends to publish the full results of its testing, including data and information on testing methods, in one or more peer-reviewed journals in the coming months. 

Out of the 95 products tested, the following six were the only ones found to have elevated levels of benzene. However, the levels are still low enough that the agency is not advising consumers to stop using them, unless the products have passed their expiration dates.

• Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream, Lot 49707430, Expiration March 2026
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• Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5%, Lots V3305A; V3304A, Expiration October 2025
• Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator, Lot V4204A, Expiration July 2025
• Benzene in Acne Products
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Research on Benzene Exposure

Inhalation accounts for 95 acne products containing benzoyl peroxide. According to the American Cancer Society, rates of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been found higher in those who work in industries chemical, shoemaking, and oil refining where they are is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and New Jersey. Some studies have also suggested a link to other forms of leukemia and blood-related cancers, but the evidence is not as strong as that for AML.

Lab studies in animals like rats and mice have shown that benzene can cause different types of tumors when inhaled or swallowed. It can also cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells in the lab—a change that is often seen in human leukemia cells. Evidence linking benzene to other forms of cancers is scant.

Many of the past benzene scares were linked to aerosol products, where benzene was found in the propellant that allows the product to be sprayed on. The 2024 Valisue study that initiated this FDA testing found that benzene was created by the degradation of benzoyl peroxide (the main ingredient in the recalled acne products) when the samples were SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion, Lot 2430600, Expiration March 2025.

Valisue is also behind many of the other benzene-in-beauty product studies. "It is important to note that these findings were released from an independent laboratory and the methods used still need to be suppress investigated and validated," says Dr. Garshick. "Overall, more data is needed to verify how to translate these findings into real life."

sunscreen use is not associated with increased blood concentrations?

Benzene has many industrial uses, including the production of chemicals used to make plastics, resins, nylons, detergents, and drugs. It's also part of gasoline. "Benzene is a compound that is known to be a carcinogen," says Dr. Garshick. "It is used as a solvent and can be found in gasoline and is a natural component of crude oil."

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Valisure discovered elevated levels of benzene in benzoyl peroxide products from brands like CeraVe, Clinique, La Roche-Posay, and Proactiv. These levels were discovered after the products were incubated at 122°F for 18 days. However, the FDA evaluated the testing methodology used and initiated independent testing to verify the results after it identified issues with the methodology. FDA testing results indicate fewer products with benzene contamination than the third-party findings, and took action to address the products that demonstrated elevated levels of benzene. 

"While it is difficult to interpret these findings and how they would apply to real-world scenarios, it is important to remember that some people may keep their benzoyl peroxide products in the bathroom, in their gym bag outside, or in the car, where even though the temperatures may not reach 100°F, temperatures may be higher and potentially contribute to some product breakdown," says Dr. Garshick. Products may also be exposed to extreme temperatures during transport on hot days.

However, the impact of topical benzene exposure is still unknown. "More information would be needed to better understand how much benzene gets absorbed by the skin and how this impacts overall health," says Dr. Garshick.

to 99 percent of benzene exposure

Benzene has been found in products like sunscreens and dry shampoos, leading to recalls from brands like Johnson & Johnson and Proctor & Gamble. Following a 2021 J&J recall, a team of dermatologists examined data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2003 to 2006 and 2009 to 2018 and found that sunscreen use is not associated with increased blood concentrations Please fill out this field.

Other Forms of Benzene Exposure

The 9 Best Body Washes to Keep Your Dry Skin Happy, According to 800+ Hours of Testing Awards & Events. "Exposures can occur in the environment as a result of forest fires, volcanoes, cigarette smoke, and motor vehicle exhaust," says Dr. Garshick. Low levels of benzene also occur in contaminated drinking water and some foods.

So, What Should I Do Now?

If you have been using any products found to contain benzene, there's no need to panic. The FDA recall is for retailers to stop selling contaminated lots, not for consumers to stop using them.

"Studies have shown that standard benzoyl peroxide use is not associated with increased blood benzene levels," says Dr. Garshick. "That said, it is still important to reduce the risk of heat degradation of benzoyl peroxide products into benzene so it is still important to develop stable formulations and inform consumers about proper storage."