Private lab finds carcinogen in common acne treatments
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A researcher in a Valisure lab in New Haven, Connecticut, in September 2022. Photo: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images
An independent lab asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a petition on Tuesday to recall a group of acne products that could potentially contain elevated levels of cancer-causing benzene.
Why it matters: The lab said the carcinogen was present due to the breakdown of benzoyl peroxide, one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in over-the-counter topical acne treatments.
- Valisure, the Connecticut-based lab, has over the past few years found several cancer-causing substances in common products and medications, including the presence of benzene in hand sanitizers and in spray sunscreens.
- Its research led to several sunscreen recalls in 2021.
Zoom out: Many federal agencies and international organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, have classified benzene, a colorless liquid that rapidly evaporates, as carcinogenic.
- It has been linked to types of blood and lymphatic cancers and has been found to cause cancer if a person is consistently exposed to levels as low as 0.8 parts per million (ppm).
- The FDA has said benzene should not be used to manufacture any component of a drug product, that manufacturers should not release products that contain benzene above 2 ppm and that they should recall any products with benzene levels above that amount.
How it works: Valisure arrived at its findings by buying 175 common acne treatments, including creams, lotions, gels and washes, and measuring them for benzene.
- After this initial testing, it found that 94 benzoyl peroxide products also contained the carcinogen, often with values well above 2 ppm.
- It then measured dozens of the products for benzene after incubating samples at 122°F, which is a common temperature used to test the stability of pharmaceutical products.
- Valisure found a dramatic increase in benzene levels during incubation, noting that "hundreds" of ppm of benzene can form in just a few weeks at 122°F.
Zoom in: However, benzene levels in some of the products were erratic or diminished over time, leading the research team to hypothesize that the benzene could be leaking from the packaging.
- It then tested this hypothesis and the results suggested that benzoyl peroxide products could break down into gaseous benzene and emanate into surrounding environments, such as a hot car or a bathroom during a shower.
The big picture: In addition to the recalls, Valisure also called on the FDA to investigate how benzoyl peroxide products are manufactured to develop guidance for testing for benzene in such products.
- The brands tested by Valisure included Proactiv, Target's Up & Up, Clinique, Clearasil and CeraVe.
- It's been known since at least 1936 that benzoyl peroxide can degrade into benzene.
Go deeper: OTC birth control priced at $19.99 a month
