Benzene is known to be a chemical that causes cancer, and it seems that it’s been found in high levels in acne treatment products that include benzoyl peroxide. Check out the latest reports about this below.
Cancer-causing benzene was found in acne treatment products
This new report that reveals the dangerous issue has been published by the independent laboratory called Valisure. It sparks concerns about the commonly used facial cleansers.
Just to refresh your memory, benzene is a sweet-smelling colorless liquid that is a known carcinogen causing leukemia in humans, along with other blood disorders. The American Cancer Society notes the fact that this is one of the 20 most used chemicals in the US.
It’s utilized by chemical and pharmaceutical companies as a solvent, and we can also find trace amounts in gasoline, glues, cigarette smoke, cleaning products, paint strippers, and more.
According to the report that we mentioned above, benzene is able to form at really high levels in prescription and OTC benzoyl peroxide products. More than that, the tests have shown some products are able to form over 800 times the conditionally restricted limit of benzene that would be allowed by the US FDA.
According to the FDA, benzene is a Class 1 solvent. Class 1 solvents should not be used to make “drug substances, excipients and drug products because of their unacceptable toxicity.”
If benzene must be used in products with significant therapeutic value, the levels should be restricted to 2 parts per million (ppm).
“There is not a safe level of benzene that can exist in any skin care product, over the counter or prescription,” Dr. Christopher Bunick, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale University, said in a press release.
More than that, according to the info:
“The current data on [benzoyl peroxide] degrading into high levels of benzene is extremely concerning given its prominent use in skin care, and this study should serve as another wake-up call for improved manufacturing and quality control of consumer healthcare products.”
