A new analysis of acne creams and cleansers has found that dozens of products, including popular brands such as Proactiv and Clearasil, contain high levels of a chemical linked to cancer. These findings corroborate some of the conclusions reached in a previous analysis that had been met with criticism regarding its methodologies. This recent research places further pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take action on products widely used by American teenagers.
Researchers tested over 100 benzoyl peroxide acne products available at major retailers in six states. They found that roughly one-third of these products were contaminated with significant levels of benzene, a chemical known to cause cancer.
The analysis, published on Monday in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, revealed that Proactiv contained 18 times the amount of this potent carcinogen permitted in U.S. drugs. A CVS-brand face wash was found to have 13 times the levels considered safe by the FDA.
“The results presented here suggest that a substantial portion of the BPO [benzoyl peroxide] acne treatment market currently contains unacceptably high levels of benzene in products sitting on the shelf,” the study’s researchers wrote in their analysis.
The research team included scientists from Valisure, a New Haven, Connecticut-based laboratory, and professors from Yale and Long Island universities.
In recent years, unhealthy levels of benzene have been detected in a wide range of consumer products, raising concerns about the FDA’s oversight. Valisure researchers initially discovered the issue with acne creams and cleansers in a separate analysis earlier this year. In March, they filed a petition with the FDA requesting a recall of products found to have high levels of benzene.
At the time, the agency stated it would work to verify Valisure’s claims before taking any action. In July, a spokesperson told Bloomberg that the agency is still conducting its research.
Valisure’s earlier study was criticized for testing products stored at high temperatures, around 122F (50C). In their follow-up analysis, researchers kept products at room temperature. Unlike the initial study, this one underwent peer review, adding an extra layer of rigor.
While some acne creams and cleansers still showed elevated levels of the chemical, approximately 70 products, including those from Clean & Clear and Neutrogena, did not contain benzene levels exceeding the U.S. limit when they were not exposed to heat. A few products, including some Clearasil offerings, contained the carcinogen in amounts just above the U.S. limit, which is 2 parts per million.
The study published Monday also found that benzene levels in acne treatments could increase significantly when exposed to ultraviolet light at body temperature, suggesting users could face a higher risk while in the sun.
A spokesperson for CVS Health Corp. stated that the company is committed to ensuring the safety of its products. A spokesperson for Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, the manufacturer of Clearasil, expressed confidence in the product’s safety. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., which acquired Proactiv maker Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in June, did not respond to requests for comment.
In 2021, the FDA first instructed drug manufacturers to test certain products for benzene. This included products made with hydrocarbons such as benzoyl peroxide, according to an agency spokesperson. None of the companies responded to inquiries about whether they have tested their products for benzene.
“I think we’re going to see a little more careful attention from the manufacturers,” said Christopher Bunick, a Yale University associate dermatology professor and a co-author on the study. “They have a duty to the consumer to check.”
