Clinique, Clearasil, Proactiv and other benzoyl peroxide (BPO) acne creams have high levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene, according to a warning from safety investigators.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting benzene induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with a severe side effect of benzene in acne cream, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
High Levels of Benzene Found in BPO Acne Creams
In March 2024, the testing agency Valisure requested a recall for several types of acne creams, lotions, and other products after their tests found high levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. Benzene levels increased dramatically when BPO acne products were stored at high temperatures, such as a steamy hot bathroom or a hot car.
What Happened?
Valisure tested dozens of acne creams, lotions, gels, and face washes that contain benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The FDA guidelines allow cosmetics to contain up to 2 parts per million of benzene, but Valisure found that many acne products contained significantly higher levels of benzene, according to their Citizens Petition demanding a recall.
Benzene Levels Increased With Hot Temperatures
Nearly all of the BPO acne products tested positive for benzene, according to Valisure. The amount of benzene increased when the products were exposed to hot temperatures, which means that consumers and retailers must be careful not to store BPO acne products above a comfortable room temperature.
Benzene Gas Can Leak Out of Sealed Packages
Even more concerning, benzene gas can also penetrate through the sealed packaging. Therefore, just being around BPO acne products poses a risk of breathing toxic benzene gas.
For example, Valisure’s found that an unopened Proactiv product released high amounts of benzene when it was kept at 104ºF for about 17 hours, which is similar to a hot car.
According to Valisure, “the incubation of a Proactiv product at the temperature of a hot car resulted in the detection of benzene in a compact car’s volume of air at approximately 1,270 times the Environmental Protection Agency’s calculated threshold for increased cancer risk by long-term inhalation exposure to benzene.”
What is BPO?
Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is an anti-bacterial chemical that is widely used for the treatment of acne, in both prescription and over-the-counter medications. The problem is that BPO breaks down into benzene when it is stored at high temperatures.
What Acne Products Are Affected?
Valisure found high levels of benzene in the following BPO acne products:
- Proactiv 2.5% BPO Cream
- Target Up & Up 2.5% BPO Cream
- Walgreens 10% BPO bar
- Harris 10% BPO wash
- Clinique 2.5% BPO cream
- Clearasil 10% BPO cream
- La Roche-Posay 5.5% BPO cream
- PanOxyl 10% BPO cream
- Sandra Lee MD 2.5% BPO lotion
- Oxy 10% BPO cream
- Galderma 5% BPO cream
- Walmart Equate 10% BPO cream
- Differin 5% BPO cream
- CeraVe 4% BPO cream
- Sandoz 5% BPO gel
- TARO 2.5% BPO gel
- Neutrogena 10% BPO gel
- And more
What Products Had High Levels of Benzene?
The highest levels of benzene were Proactiv 2.5% BPO cream (1,761 ppm benzene), Target’s Up & Up 2.5% BPO cream (1,598 ppm benzene), Estee Lauder’s Clinique 2.5% BPO cream (401 ppm benzene), Clearasil 10% BPO cream (308 ppm benzene), and Walgreens 10% BPO cream (114 ppm benzene).
What is the Risk?
Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans, including leukemia and blood disorders. Benzene exposure has been linked with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other life-threatening cancers and diseases.
Do I have an Acne Cream Benzene Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting benzene induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with a severe side effect of benzene in acne cream, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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