Potential Carcinogen Found in 6 Popular Acne Products, Prompting Recall: FDA

Mar. 15, 2025

Recalled products from (from left:) La Roche-Posay, SLMD, and Walgreens.Photo:La Roche-Posay; SLMD; Walgreens

La Roche-Posay; SLMD; Walgreens

TheU.S. Food and Drug Administrationhas announced a voluntary recall of six widely available acne treatments, saying the products had “elevated levels” ofbenzene, a known carcinogen.

The agency announced that after concerns were raised about levels of benzene in products containing benzoyl peroxide, they tested 95 acne products with the ingredient. While most had “undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene,” six products showed “elevated levels” of benzene.

Stock image of a young girl washing her face.Getty

Getty

The way benzene — which theAmerican Cancer Societysays has been shown to cause cancer — is created when the product is handled under certain conditions. As explained inThe Journal of Investigative Dermatology:“The potent carcinogen, benzene, is a known degradation product of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and was recently reported to form when BPO drug products, used for acne and rosacea treatment, are incubated at body temperature and elevated temperatures expected during storage and transportation.”

The specific products included in the recall are:

Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5% has been recalled.Proactiv

Proactiv

The FDA noted that the recalls do not “specifically instruct consumers to take actions regarding products currently in their possession.” The agency adds that “the risk of a person developing cancer because of exposure to benzene found in these products is very low,” and the recall is limited to pulling the product from sale online or in stores.

However, customers are advised to “check their products and throw away products that are beyond their expiration date.”

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“At La Roche-Posay, product safety is our highest priority," a La Roche-Posay spokesperson told PEOPLE. “While our Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment has a long-standing 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.”

PEOPLE has also reached out to reps for Proactiv, SLMD, and Walgreens, for comment.

source: people.com