Major Acne Products Recalled After FDA Detects Cancer-Causing Agent
Recently, some of our favorite brands have been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The root cause of it all is benzoyl peroxide for acne – something we’ve all leaned on from time to time to help clear up our skin.
Recalled Acne Medication
Benzoyl peroxide can form another chemical compound called benzene, which can be harmful to us after periods of long-term exposure.
And, as it turns out, the FDA tested 95 products containing benzoyl peroxide, only to discover that six products have more benzene in them than they should. The recalled acne medications are:
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment (expiration date April 2025)
Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5% (expiration date October 2025)
Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator (expiration date July 2025)
SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion (expiration date March 2025)
Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser (expiration date September 2025)
Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream (expiration date March 2026)
If you’re currently using any of these products, the FDA is advising everyone to throw them away, especially if they’re about to expire. This is also a retailer recall, not a consumer recall; the onus is on the stores to remove these products from the shelves, in person and online.
The agency also said there is no acceptable exposure level for benzene beyond two parts per million in certain products.
That said, it’s not time to worry, either. The FDA has also gone so far as to say that people’s risk of developing cancer from these products is very low, even if they’ve been using them for decades.
Benzoyl Peroxide Recall
Remember, this is not a recall on benzoyl peroxide, but its potential byproduct, benzene. It’s actually a carcinogen. To no surprise, it can be found in cigarette smoke, among other sources like gasoline, crude oil, forest fires, and volcanoes.
Unfortunately, it’s also one of the top 20 most-produced chemicals in the United States. It’s sometimes used to make other chemicals found in plastic, synthetic fibers, pesticides, nylon, and certain detergents.
In a way, this sort of explains the circle of life when it comes to long-term smoking habits. Being exposed to carcinogens, like benzene and beyond, can start to disrupt the functionality of our cells. Over time, the body may start producing fewer and fewer red and white blood cells. The end result is a weakened immune system, and, in some cases, cancer.
Keep an Eye on Recalls
Did you know you can monitor FDA recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts from their website? In addition, you can sign up to receive emails from them when new recalls are issued.
And, while you’re at it, keep coming back for more updates on recalls, be it from our favorite retail products, motor vehicles, and food items. We’re all in this together and, as a community, can do our best to keep everyone informed!