La Roche-Posay, Walgreens, Proactiv and SLMD Skincare have voluntarily recalled acne treatments from retail that contained trace amounts of the cancer-causing ingredient benzene.
According to an announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 95 products were tested and six have been recalled at retail. The firm said that 90 percent of the products tested “had undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene.” The test was conducted after a third-party company submitted findings “that raised concerns about elevated levels of benzene in certain acne products containing benzoyl peroxide,” according to the FDA’s statement.
The products voluntarily recalled from retail include La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment, Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser, Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5%, Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator, SLMD Skincare Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion and Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream. Zapzyt is also recalling its Acne Treatment Gel following similar test results.
In regards to the recall, a La Roche-Posay spokesperson said: “At La Roche-Posay, product safety is our highest priority. While our Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment has a longstanding history of safe and effective use, recent testing revealed minimal traces of benzene in one lot of the product. Although these trace levels do not pose a safety risk, we are committed to upholding the highest quality standards. Therefore, in close coordination with the FDA, we have proactively decided to remove the limited remaining units of the current formula of Effaclar Duo from retailers. This decision also enables a seamless transition to our new and improved Effaclar Duo formula, which has been in development since 2024 and will be available to consumers soon.”
Benzoyl peroxide, the acne-fighting ingredient featured in these products, can develop into benzene, a known carcinogen, due to certain conditions like high heat or certain types of light — independent lab Valisure’s previous testing on acne treatments last year showed that benzene could form from benzoyl peroxide if the product reached 70 degrees Celsius. Depending on the level and type of exposure, benzene can have an array of adverse side effects, including headaches, dizziness and vomiting, per the CDC. High levels of exposure could lead to a higher risk of cancer and blood disorders. The ingredient is also found in gasoline and cigarettes.
During similar recalls in the past, brands have argued that if the products are handled as directed there shouldn’t be any issues or concerns of the benzoyl peroxide developing into benzene. In this specific case, the FDA stated: “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.” The firm also noted that many third-party tests that have caused high levels of consumer concern have been inaccurate when it comes to detecting benzene, and they are urging these labs to employ validated measures going forward.
This news follows a similar announcement last year when several brands, including CeraVe, Proactiv, Clinique and Clearasil, faced backlash after Valisure discovered that their products maintained high levels of benzene. At the time, Valisure filed a petition to the FDA urging them to “issue a regulation, revise industry guidance and request a recall and suspend sales of benzoyl peroxide from the U.S. market.” Similarly, in 2022, Unilever voluntarily recalled several dry shampoos from brands like Dove and Suave, as they suspected they contained high levels of the ingredient.
