“It is important to note the recalls are being conducted at the retail level, not the consumer level,” the FDA said in its announcement. “This means retailers are instructed to remove products from store shelves and online marketplaces, but does not specifically instruct consumers to take actions regarding products currently in their possession.”
The following products were voluntarily recalled by their manufacturers:
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment Lot no. MYX46W; Expires April 2025
- Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser Lot no. 23 09328; expires September 2025
- Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5% Lot nos. V3305A, V3304A; expires October 2025
- Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator Lot no. V4204A; expires July 2025
- SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion Lot no. 2430600; expires March 2025.
- Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream Lot no. 49707430; expires March 2026
The maker of another acne product, Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel, issued a voluntary recall due to elevated benzene levels found in its own testing, the FDA said.
The agency said using the recalled acne treatments poses a very low risk. “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 FDA said.
The agency noted that several of these products are approaching their expiration date. If you have an expired product, you should throw it away, the FDA said.
What Is Benzene?
Manufacturers use benzene to make industrial products like dyes, detergents, and some plastics, but benzene is not usually used to make drugs like acne products, the FDA says.
Benzene contamination in benzoyl peroxide treatments “may be related to inactive ingredients in drugs such as carbomers (thickening agents), isobutane (a spray propellant), or other drug components made from hydrocarbons (chemicals made of hydrogen and carbon),” the agency says.
What Are the Health Risks of Benzene?
Exposure to benzene over long periods of time can decrease the production of blood cells and potentially lead to cancers like leukemia and other blood disorders.
