Anna Edney | (TNS) Bloomberg News
Some skin doctors suggest refrigerating benzoyl peroxide products like Proactiv and Clearasil because a private lab found that they were tainted with the strong cancer-causing chemical benzene.
The American Acne & Rosacea Society stated Wednesday that keeping benzoyl peroxide creams, gels, and washes in the fridge could lower the chance of benzene exposure. The group, with about 6,000 members, said, “Benzoyl peroxide has been a very important part of the treatment of many patients with acne and also some other skin diseases.”
The testing lab Valisure asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 5 to recall benzoyl peroxide acne treatments following the discovery of high levels of benzene in the products, Bloomberg News reported. Benzene levels rose during stability testing of products, including Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s Proactiv 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream and 10% benzoyl peroxide cream from Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc’s Clearasil.
The results were unexpected considering benzoyl peroxide has been in use for five decades, AARS President James Del Rosso stated in a release. The group called for more research.
“We want to ensure that any advice provided and any decisions made are based on solid scientific evidence as much as possible,” Del Rosso mentioned.
The FDA has stated that it will verify the accuracy of the data Valisure presented in its petition.
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