A Lab Says Benzoyl Peroxide in Acne Products May Cause Cancer. But Experts Don’t Agree

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

Key Takeaways

• Valisure, an independent lab, submitted a petition to the FDA to recall acne products containing benzoyl peroxide.

• When stored at hot temperatures, acne products tested by Valisure were found to contain high levels of benzene, a chemical known to cause cancer.

• Dermatologists say that the Valisure report is incomplete and more data would be needed to support a recall of benzoyl peroxide-containing products.
  

If your go-to acne product contains benzoyl peroxide, you probably keep reaching for it because it’s an effective treatment that reduces acne-causing bacteria on your skin.

However, these popular products are facing scrutiny after Valisure, an independent laboratory testing the safety and purity of consumer products and pharmaceutical drugs, petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall benzoyl peroxide-containing acne products.

While the FDA has not released an official statement, Valisure claims that when benzoyl peroxide is exposed to hot temperatures, it can be broken down into benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.

Dermatologists don’t think you need to discard your favorite acne products just yet. Here’s everything experts say you need to know about acne products and benzoyl peroxide.

Related: How to Treat Your Acne with Benzoyl Peroxide

How Much Benzoyl Peroxide Do Acne Products Contain?

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical antiseptic, and it’s not inherently dangerous on its own. The issue is that it can decompose into a carcinogenic chemical called benzene at high temperatures.

According to current FDA regulations, topical acne products with benzoyl peroxide concentrations between 2.5% to 10% are approved and safe for use. Dermatologists typically recommend 2.5% to 5% benzoyl peroxide for facial acne and a higher concentration of between 5% and 10% for truncal acne, John Barbieri, MD, MBA, a board-certified dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told Verywell.

Valisure researchers tested vials of acne treatment products under extreme temperatures to see if and when the benzoyl peroxide broke down into benzene. They detected high levels of benzene in the batches that had been stored at 98.6, 122, and 158 degrees for 18 days and tested for benzene every few days.

“While it stands to reason that a product with a lower concentration [of benzoyl peroxide] may be safer, the data presented by Valisure showed unacceptable levels of benzene in some 2.5% benzoyl peroxide products early—at days 0 and 4 at 50 degrees Celsius [122 F],” Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, told Verywell.

Related: Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne Treatments

Dermatologists Say Valisure’s Report Is Incomplete

Barbieri cautions consumers against drawing conclusions from the report, flagging that it contains little practical information. For instance, the report does not say:

• When the Valisure-tested products were purchased

• Whether Valisure-tested products were appropriately stored to begin with

• If benzene formation can or did occur at room temperature or other temperatures

If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to store your acne products at room temperature—or what the ideal storage temperature is—the report doesn’t say that either, Geddes-Bruce said.

Related: What to Know About the Carcinogen Benzene Found in Some Popular Sunscreens

Don’t Toss Your Topicals

Not only has benzyl peroxide historically been a safe and effective ingredient used in acne treatments, but it would take prolonged exposure to high temperatures to create the more hazardous benzene, Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Schweiger Dermatology Group, told Verywell.

“Systemic absorption of benzene through the skin is likely super low,” Nazarian added. “My advice is this: Don’t throw away your benzoyl peroxide products.”

Barbieri and Geddes-Bruce recommend storing acne products at room temperature or even keeping them refrigerated. Discard any products that have expired or been exposed to hot temperatures, such as kept in a hot car all day.

“There is certainly a role for benzoyl peroxide in treating acne. We just need to make sure it is formulated [and stored] safely,” Geddes-Bruce said.

If you’re really worried about benzoyl peroxide, remember that it’s far from the only acne treatment ingredient out there. You can try an alternative like salicylic acid, retinoids like adapalene, sulfur-containing products, azelaic acid, or talk to your provider about prescription options, Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, told Verywell.

Related: Johnson & Johnson Recalls Sunscreens After Finding Carcinogenic Ingredients

Valisure’s benzene testing has previously led to sunscreen recalls. But Nazarian doubts a recall for benzoyl peroxide acne products is coming.

“The biggest change is that there will likely be new labeling that recommends keeping it at room temperature and avoiding high heat,” she said. “Companies that are shipping volumes of these products may need to make sure that they are always transported in appropriate temperatures.”

What This Means For You

If you use acne products containing benzoyl peroxide, dermatologists recommend storing them at room temperature or keeping them refrigerated and discarding any products that have been stored in hot temperatures or are past their expiration dates. You can also look for other acne products that don’t contain benzoyl peroxide, like those with salicylic acid, sulfur, azelaic acid, and retinoids.

Learn More: Benzoyl Peroxide vs. Salicylic Acid for Acne

Read the original article on Verywell Health.