The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expanded recall of acne treatment products found to contain elevated levels of benzene, a chemical classified as a known human carcinogen.
Six new products sold under brand names such as Walgreens, Proactiv, SLMD, and Zapzyt have been voluntarily recalled following FDA testing of 95 acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide.
This recall follows an earlier one by L’Oréal, which removed its La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment from shelves earlier this week.
“The risk of a person developing cancer because of exposure to benzene found in these products is very low,” the FDA said in a statement.
Full List of Recalled Acne Products
The products are listed by brand, product name, lot numbers, and expiration date:
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment
Lot number: MYX46W
Expiration date: April 2025
Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser
Lot number: 23 09328
Expiration date: September 2025
Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream 5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Lot numbers: V3305A; V3304A
Expiration date: October 2025
Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator
Lot number: V4204A
Expiration date: July 2025
SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion
Lot number: 2430600
Expiration date: March 2025
Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream
Lot number: 49707430
Expiration date: March 2026
Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel
No specific lot listed
Voluntarily recalled by manufacturer
The FDA found that under certain conditions, benzoyl peroxide, a common acne-fighting ingredient, can break down into benzene, especially when exposed to heat or improper storage.
The agency began its own testing after receiving third-party lab reports raising concerns. While over 90% of the products tested had undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene, the recalled items exceeded acceptable thresholds.
What Consumers Should Do
The FDA has not issued specific instructions for consumers with these products at home, but it recommends:
Checking product lot numbers and expiration dates
Discarding expired products
Monitoring for any product updates or health symptoms, and contacting a healthcare provider if concerned
All recalls are voluntary and conducted at the retail level, meaning affected products are being removed from physical and online shelves.
The full testing results from the FDA are expected to be released in the coming months.
