Benzene in Acne Products: Risks, Recalls & Legal Action

Imagine applying a product to your face, trusting it to treat breakouts or improve your skin, only to later discover it may contain a cancer-causing chemical. 

That’s the troubling reality for many consumers after recent findings revealed that some acne treatments and skin care products contain benzene, a known carcinogen. These discoveries have raised serious safety concerns and prompted investigations, recalls, and legal action.

The Lyon Firm is actively monitoring which acne products are cancer-causing and investigating claims from individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer after using contaminated acne products. If you or a loved one has used skincare products that may contain benzene, we encourage you to reach out. 

Our toxic exposure lawyers are available to review your case and provide a free consultation when you fill out our quick online form or call (513) 381-2333 today.

What Is Benzene?

Benzene is a naturally occurring compound that can cause leukemia and other blood cancers in high doses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just in the last few years, benzene has been detected in several other popular household products. Large corporations, such as Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble, have previously recalled products due to the presence of this toxin.

Current FDA guidelines allow for a very low, conditional limit of up to 2 parts per million (ppm) of benzene. However, tests have found some acne products that contained levels significantly higher. 

The amount of benzene in parts per million increased significantly when the products were tested at higher temperatures, which were meant to show how products can break down over time and under common storage conditions.

Some of the acne products Valisure identified with potentially concerning levels in their testing include:

• Proactiv 2.5% BPO cream
• Up & Up 2.5% BPO cream
• Walgreens 10% BPO bar
• Harris 10% BPO wash
• Clinique 2.5% BPO cream
• Clearasil 10% BPO cream
• La Roche-Posay 5.5% BPO cream
• PanOxyl 10% BPO cream
• Sandra Lee MD 2.5% BPO lotion
• Oxy 10% BPO cream
• Galderma 5% BPO cream
• Equate 10% BPO cream
• Differin 5% BPO cream
• CeraVe 4% BPO cream
• Sandoz 5% BPO gel
• TARO 2.5% BPO gel
• Neutrogena 10% BPO gel

Understanding the Dangers of Benzene in Acne Treatment Products

This issue gained widespread attention after an independent testing laboratory, Valisure, conducted extensive tests on hundreds of popular consumer acne treatments. Their findings were alarming: several major brands were allegedly selling products with surprisingly high levels of benzene. 

Valisure specifically focused on acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide (BPO), an active ingredient commonly used to fight acne. Some of the brands tested included well-known names like:

• Proactiv
• Clinique
• Clearasil

According to Valisure’s petition filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the cancer-causing chemical was detected in some products at levels more than 800 times higher than the federal concentration limit. 

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time benzene has been found in everyday items. Previous lab tests have also uncovered potentially unhealthy levels of benzene in products, such as: 

• Antiperspirants
• Aerosol sprays
• Hand sanitizers
• Sunscreens
• Dry shampoos

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after using skincare treatments, acne products, or other contaminated cosmetics, contact our lawyers to learn more about your legal options.

Companies that produce, market, and distribute products to consumers have a duty to ensure they are safe. It is unclear why none of these companies had their products tested before this report was published. It is even possible that some of these companies did test their products for potential toxins or contaminants and simply chose not to warn the public about their findings.

The Lyon Firm is investigating toxic exposure and product liability cases on behalf of plaintiffs nationwide. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after years of exposure to a contaminated acne product or another toxic skincare product, you may be able to file a claim. Contact our lawyers online or call (513) 381-2333 to discuss legal action and learn more about protecting yourself from toxic consumer products.

FDA’s Findings and Recent Benzoyl Peroxide Recall

The presence of benzene in acne products has drawn significant attention, including from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In March 2025, the FDA provided an important update based on its own independent testing of 95 acne products containing benzoyl peroxide. 

While the FDA stated that over 90% of the products they tested had undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene, they did identify a limited but concerning number of products with elevated benzene levels. 

Following these findings, several companies voluntarily agreed to recall certain products. It’s important to understand that these recalls are primarily happening at the retail level. This means stores and online marketplaces are instructed to remove the affected products from sale.

The FDA clarified that consumers are not specifically instructed to discard products they currently own, though checking expiration dates and disposing of expired items is always recommended.

The FDA has stated that even with daily use of these specific products for decades, the risk of a person developing cancer from the benzene found in them is considered “very low.” 

However, it’s crucial to remember that leading health organizations, including the CDC, maintain that there is no safe level of exposure to a known human carcinogen like benzene.

Below are the products included in the benzoyl peroxide recall list:

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment
• Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser
• Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream 
• Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator
• SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion
• Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream
• Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel (this manufacturer conducted its own testing and initiated a voluntary recall)

Are Acne Products Cancer-Causing? 

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is a very common active ingredient. You’ll find BPO-containing products in topical treatments for acne, as well as conditions like folliculitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and rosacea. Many of these are available over the counter, but some BPO prescription treatments also exist.

Valisure’s initial petition to the FDA included 66 different acne treatments. Many of these products are sold by major retailers, including Target, Walgreens, and CVS, and include popular brand names such as Clearasil, PanOxyl, Neutrogena, and Clean & Clear.

Other brands named in Valisure’s petition included: Harris, Sandra Dee M.D., Galderma, Vie Naturelle, Ecuate, Differin, Humane, Oxy, Encube, Nixa Skincare, Dr. Song, CeraVe, Mylan, Zapzyt, Urban Skin Rx, Rugby, Perrigo, Glenmark, Oceanside, Teva, Sandoz, Replenix, Prasco, M.A.D Skincare, Aspexia, and Daylogic.

Why Is There Benzene in These Products?

Benzene found in these benzoyl peroxide acne products is believed to be coming from the benzoyl peroxide itself as it breaks down.

Studies have determined that this breakdown, which forms benzene, is significantly sped up by exposure to elevated temperatures. Valisure found that an unopened Proactiv product, for example, leaked high levels of benzene when kept at 104 degrees Fahrenheit, similar to the temperature of a hot shower. 

Think about where you might store your acne cream: a warm bathroom, or perhaps it sits in a hot car for a while. These everyday scenarios can accelerate the process. Furthermore, the gaseous form of benzene was even found to penetrate through sealed packaging, creating an inhalation risk. 

​​Ongoing Benzene Lawsuits

The concerns about benzene in acne products aren’t just scientific discussions or FDA announcements; they’ve led to direct legal action against some of the biggest names in skincare. 

Consumers who believe they’ve been harmed or misled are stepping forward, filing lawsuits against manufacturers of these benzoyl peroxide products. These lawsuits aim to hold companies accountable for allegedly selling products that can degrade into a known carcinogen without proper warnings.

La Roche-Posay Lawsuit

L’Oréal, the parent company of La Roche-Posay, is currently facing a class action lawsuit concerning its popular benzoyl peroxide acne treatments. These lawsuits claim that La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment contains benzene, despite the chemical not being listed on the product’s ingredients.

The lawsuit highlights independent lab Valisure’s findings, which showed benzene levels in La Roche-Posay benzoyl peroxide products far exceeding the FDA’s conditional limit of 2 parts per million (ppm). 

Some readings from Valisure’s testing showed levels of over 100 ppm after just 10 days of testing, increasing further over time. The legal complaint argues that L’Oréal could have avoided this potential contamination by changing their manufacturing process or raw ingredients and that the products should have been sold without any benzene. 

Proactiv Lawsuit 

Proactiv, another widely recognized brand in acne treatment, is also at the center of multiple lawsuits. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturer knowingly marketed and sold acne treatment products containing benzoyl peroxide, despite understanding that this ingredient could break down into benzene, a potent carcinogen.

Legal filings against Proactiv’s makers, such as Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., suggest that the companies failed to warn consumers about the potential for benzene formation, thereby exposing users to an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, including leukemia and other blood cancers. 

These lawsuits often cite Valisure’s 2024 reports, with some Proactiv products reportedly showing benzene levels as high as 1700 ppm in Valisure’s testing.

Why Hire The Lyon Firm?

Benzene contamination in acne products is just one part of a much larger problem. This dangerous carcinogen also poses serious risks to workers in industries such as dry cleaning, manufacturing, painting, auto repair, and rubber production, where long-term exposure can lead to life-threatening health issues.

Our team has the resources, experience, and dedication to take on difficult product liability cases on behalf of consumers who are injured by a defective product. 

It doesn’t seem like it is too much to ask individuals to trust that corporations properly test their products before they are released to the general public. Unfortunately, our lawyers are forced to engage several companies each year due to poor quality control measures and corporate negligence.

For nearly 20 years, we’ve successfully resolved numerous toxic exposure lawsuits, securing six- and seven-figure compensation packages for our clients. By filing a product liability claim, you may be able to recover rightful compensation and hold any negligent company accountable for your illness or injury. Call (513) 381-2333 or fill out our quick online form now for a free and confidential consultation.