FDA Recalls Acne Products Over Benzene Contamination Concerns

Six benzoyl peroxide-based acne treatments have been pulled from shelves due to low cancer risk linked to elevated benzene levels.

The FDA has issued a voluntary recall for six acne treatment products after testing detected elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen.
Affected brands include Walgreens, La Roche-Posay, Proactiv, SLMD, and Zapzyt, with specific lot numbers and expiration dates provided for each product.
Retailers have been instructed to remove the products from shelves and online stores, but consumers are not required to take action unless concerned.
The FDA emphasized that the risk of cancer from these products is very low, even with prolonged daily use over decades.
Benzene contamination in these products likely occurred as a byproduct of benzoyl peroxide breaking down during storage or transport at elevated temperatures.