An independent laboratory in the USA has discovered high levels of the carcinogenic chemical benzene in brands such as Clearasil and Clinique. The laboratory, Valisure, has now submitted a petition to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging them to recall the products and to initiate an investigation. Shares of the affected companies, including the US cosmetics giant Estée Lauder, of which Clinique is a part, reacted immediately: Estée Lauder lost three percent, while Reckitt even suffered a two percent loss in value.

Benzene is Among the Chemicals Banned in Cosmetic Products Due to Its Carcinogenic Effects. Valisure Reports that Benzene Could Form in "Unacceptably High Quantities" in Both Prescription and Over-the-Counter Acne Treatment Products. High Benzene Concentrations Have Been Detected in Products from Brands Such as Clearasil and Clinique, as Well as in Products from Proactiv, PanOxyl, Walgreens, and Walmart.

The FDA Has Not Yet Responded to Valisure's Petition, But States They Are Closely Monitoring the Situation. In the Past, Benzene Was Found in Other Products During Recalls, Such As in Sunscreens, Hand Sanitizers, and Dry Shampoos From Major Companies Like Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson.

Valisure emphasizes, however, that the case in acne products differs from those in other products. According to laboratory president David Light, the benzene found in acne products is not a contaminant, but rather originates directly from the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide. This can become particularly problematic when products are stored at temperatures above room temperature, especially above 37 degrees. Valisure has found in its tests that some products may contain more than 800 times the limit for benzene set by the FDA.

Not only in the affected acne products, but also in the air around the products, high levels of benzene were found. This suggests that the benzene is escaping from the packaging and thus poses a potential risk for inhalation.

Valisure thus demands not only a revision of the industry guidelines, but also an immediate investigation and possibly even a recall of the affected products. The results of the lab could therefore have implications not only for the affected companies, but also for the entire acne product industry.