Clearasil acne products.Photo:Clearasil
Clearasil
A recent report has found high levels of the cancer-causing chemicalbenzenein acne treatments that contain the popular ingredientbenzoyl peroxide.
However,according to Vailsure, it can also create the carcinogen benzene under certain conditions.
“Benzene can be produced in the product itself and potentially escape into the surrounding air.”
Clinique counter.Thomas Iannaccone/WWD/Penske Media via Getty
Thomas Iannaccone/WWD/Penske Media via Getty
Reckitt, the producer of Clearasil, gave the following statement to PEOPLE:
Vailsure also reported finding benzene in Proactiv, PanOxyl, Walgreens' acne soap bar and Walmart’s Equate Beauty acne cream.
According tothe CDC, “The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that benzene is a known carcinogen (can causecancer). Both the International Agency for Cancer Research and the EPA have determined that benzene is carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to benzene may be harmful to the reproductive organs.”
While benzene has been found in other products before, Vailsure said “the benzene we found in sunscreens and other consumer products were impurities that came from contaminated ingredients; however, the benzene in benzoyl peroxide products is coming from the benzoyl peroxide itself, sometimes at hundreds of times the conditional FDA limit. This means the problem broadly affects benzoyl peroxide products, both prescription and over-the-counter, and necessitates urgent action,” said Valisure Co-Founder and President David Light.
In 2021, Coppertonerecalled sunscreenfor containing benzene, shortly after Johnson & Johnsonissued a recallfor the same reasons.Dry shampoohas also been recalled due to the carcinogen.
PEOPLE has reached out to the manufacturers of the affected products for more information.
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source: people.com
