03/16/2025
The .S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall for select acne treatment products after testing revealed elevated levels of benzene, a chemical linked to cancer. The agency tested 95 benzoyl peroxide acne products and found that more than 90% had undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene. However, six products showed contamination levels high enough to prompt recalls at the retail level.
The recalls are limited to retailers, meaning stores have been instructed to remove affected products from shelves and online marketplaces. Consumers are not required to take any specific action regarding products they already possess. However, the FDA recommends discarding any products that are past their expiration dates.
Recalled Products:
*La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment (Lot: MYX46W, Exp. April 2025 *Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser (Lot: 23 09328, Exp. September 2025)
*Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5% (Lots: V3305A, V3304A, Exp. October 2025)
*Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator (Lot: V4204A, Exp. July 2025)
*SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion (Lot: 2430600, Exp. March 2025)
*Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream (Lot: 49707430, Exp. March 2026)
Additionally, Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel is being voluntarily recalled by its manufacturer following its own internal testing that detected elevated benzene levels.
