Some La Roche-Posay, Proactiv and Walgreens acne treatments recalled due
to benzene levels
[March 14, 2025]
By MATTHEW PERRONE
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials are asking retailers to pull a
small number of acne creams from their store shelves after government
testing found they contain slightly elevated levels of a chemical
associated with cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration said several lots of six products
containing benzoyl peroxide are being recalled, including Walgreens Acne
Control Cleanser, Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator and La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment. The full list and lot numbers
was posted online Tuesday.
The FDA stressed consumers face little risk from the products.
“Even with daily use of these products for decades, the risk of a person
developing cancer because of exposure to benzene found in these products
is very low,” the agency stated.
All of the products contain benzene, a chemical component of crude oil,
gas and cigarette smoke. Prolonged exposure to high levels can cause
leukemia and other cancers.
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The Food and Drug Administration campus in Silver Spring, Md., is
seen, Oct. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
The recalls announced this week apply to stores selling the items. FDA
officials said consumers don’t need to take any specific action.
The FDA identified the six products after testing 95 acne treatment
products. The agency’s review was prompted by testing reports from
private laboratories about excess benzene levels in a number of acne
products.
In recent years a variety of other products have been recalled over
benzene levels, including hand sanitizers, aerosols and sunscreens.
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