Common Acne Drug Might Become Carcinogenic at Room Temperature

Some widely used acne creams may contain the known carcinogen benzene The creams’ active ingredient is benzoyl peroxide, which degrades into benzene This degradation can occur even at room temperature, researchers found WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Widely-used creams can become contaminated with a known carcinogen even if kept at room temperature, a new study warns. Creams containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) can wind up containing high levels of benzene while sitting on a store shelf or in a medicine cabinet, researchers found after testing 111 products from major U.

S. retailers. Brands tested containing benzoyl peroxide included products from Clearasil, Clean & Clear, Neutrogena, Proactiv, Up & Up and store brand equivalents.

Benzoyl peroxide degrades into the carcinogen benzene over time when stored at room temperature, at elevated temperatures and when exposed to the ultraviolet rays of sunlight, researchers reported Oct. 7 in the This is the first time that benzoyl peroxide products have been shown to degrade into benzene at normal temperatures, they noted. “Our research demonstrates that BPO products can generate benzene at typical room and store shelf temperatures, while cold storage significantly reduces this formation,” said researcher , an associate professor of dermatology with the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies benzene as a known human carcinogen, noting that it specifically i.