2026 Position Statement: Benzene in BPO-containing products

Background

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) containing products have been widely used for the treatment of acne for decades. BPO can, under certain conditions, degrade and generate benzene, a known carcinogen, particularly at higher temperatures.

In March 2024, Valisure, an American laboratory that tests medications and consumer products, filed a citizen petition with the United States FDA, raising concerns after its testing detected benzene in benzoyl peroxide-containing acne products.

Valisure reported finding benzene in BPO products after incubation at 37 °C and 50^OC and also found detectable levels of benzene in some products when procured.

Regulatory Testing and Responses

In March 2025, the FDA reported the results of the agency’s testing of benzoyl peroxide-containing acne products. More than 90% of tested products had undetectable or extremely low levels of benzene. A limited number (6) of BPO-containing acne products were recalled at the retail level.

The FDA concluded that even with daily use for decades, the added cancer risk from benzene exposure in these products is very low. The FDA also raised concerns about the use of unvalidated testing methods by third-party laboratories, which can lead to inaccurate results.

In November 2025, Health Canada recalled a small number of over-the-counter BPO-containing acne products because they contained benzene concentrations higher than the allowable limit.

Levels of benzene in BPO-containing products vary between brands and product lines, suggesting that changes in how these products are made and distributed could minimize the amount of benzene in these products.

Clinical Studies of BPO Safety

It’s important to note that available clinical and pharmacokinetic* studies of individuals using BPO-containing products have not shown increased blood levels of benzene or an increased risk of cancer.

Benzoyl peroxide has been widely used for the treatment of acne for over 60 years, with no epidemiologic signal of increased malignancy risk to date. Although these studies are reassuring, further prospective long-term studies are needed

For patients who wish to take additional precautionary steps, recognizing that overall risk remains very low, the following measures may further minimize exposure:

• Discard products that are expired or have been exposed to elevated temperatures
• Consider replacing BPO-containing products every 10-12 weeks
• Store BPO-containing products at room temperature or in the refrigerator
• Avoid online purchase of BPO-containing products, as exposure to higher temperatures may occur during shipping
• As UV radiation may increase degradation of BPO to benzene, protect your skin from the sun

*The study of the bodily absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs

*Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada’s Disclaimer, Legal and Privacy Policy