A new analysis of acne creams and cleansers found that dozens, including popular products like Proactive and Clearasil, contain high levels of a cancer-linked chemical. The findings confirm some earlier studies whose methods were criticized, putting more pressure on the US Food and Drug Administration to take action on products widely used by American teenagers. Read this also Study shows cancer-causing toxin in dry shampoo still found on store shelves
Conclusion about high levels of benzene
Researchers tested more than 100 benzoyl peroxide acne products available at major retailers in six US states. They found that nearly a third were contaminated with high levels of benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer.
The analysis published Monday in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that Proactiv contained 18 times the amount of the powerful carcinogen allowed in U.S. drugs. The level in CVS-brand face wash was 13 times higher than the level considered safe by the FDA.
“The results presented here show that a large portion of the BPO [benzoyl peroxide] “Products currently sitting on the shelf in the acne treatment market contain unacceptably high levels of benzene,” the study researchers wrote in their analysis. The researchers included professors from the New Haven, Connecticut-based Valiser Lab and Yale and Long Island universities.
In recent years, unhealthy levels of benzene have been found in all types of consumer products, raising questions about the FDA’s oversight. Valiser researchers highlighted the problem with acne creams and cleansers in another analysis earlier this year, and filed a petition with the FDA in March to recall creams that were found to contain high amounts of benzene. Was.
At the time, the agency said it would work to verify Valizer’s claims before taking action. A spokesperson told Bloomberg in July that the agency was still conducting that research.
Earlier study received criticism
The lab’s earlier study had received pushback for testing products held at higher temperatures of about 122F (50C). In their pursuit, the researchers kept the products at room temperature. Unlike the initial analysis, this study was peer-reviewed, giving it another level of rigor.
While some acne creams and cleansers were still found to contain high levels of the chemical, about 70, including Clean & Clear and Neutrogena products, did not contain benzene levels above US limits when they were not exposed to heat. Some, including some of Clearasil’s offerings, contained carcinogens slightly higher than the US limit, which is 2 parts per million.
The study published Monday also found that benzene levels in acne treatments can increase significantly when exposed to ultraviolet light at body temperature, indicating that users face increased risk if exposed to the sun. Could.
A spokesperson for CVS Health Corp. said the company is committed to ensuring its products are safe. A spokesman for Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, the manufacturer of Clearsil, said it was confident the product was safe. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., which bought Proactive maker Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in June, did not respond to requests for comment.
The FDA first told drugmakers in 2021 that they must test certain products for benzene. This would include those made from hydrocarbons such as benzoyl peroxide, an agency spokesperson said. Neither company responded to questions about whether they tested their products for benzene.
“I think we’re going to need a little more careful attention from manufacturers,” said Christopher Banik, MD, associate dermatology professor at Yale University and co-author of the study. “They have a duty to the consumer to investigate.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.