La Roche-Posay recalls acne cream after concerns it may contain cancer-causing chemical
La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo, a popular face cream product that's designed to treat acne, has been recalled after concerns that it may contain a chemical that can cause cancer.
In a report by Bloomberg, L'Oreal, a cosmetics company headquartered in Paris, decided to issue a recall of the Effaclar Duo after independent testing lab Valisure flagged benzene contamination a year ago in many popular benzoyl peroxide products.
"Currently formulated benzoyl peroxide medications are fundamentally unstable and can generate unacceptably high levels of benzene when handled or stored at higher temperatures that the products may be exposed to during handling by customers," Valisure's report stated.
According to the National Cancer Institute, benzene is a "colorless or light-yellow liquid chemical" that is mostly used as a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
People are exposed to benzene primarily by breathing air that contains the chemical, and this can prove risky as it "increases the risk of developing leukemia and other blood disorders."
Bloomberg detailed that when L’Oreal conducted a test on their Effaclar Duo, they found "trace levels of the contaminant in one lot of the product."
"In close coordination with the FDA, we have proactively decided to remove the limited remaining units of the current formula of Effaclar Duo from retailers," the company said in a statement to the news outlet.
The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo is advertised as their "best spot treatment for acne" as it "reduces the number and severity of acne blemishes, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads." Results are touted to be visible in less than three days.
The face cream contains 5.5% benzoyl peroxide that is "milled to a consistent small size that allows for deep penetration into the pores."
Other key ingredients include lipo-hydroxy acid, glycerin, and silica.
While Effaclar Duo is still visible on La Roche-Posay's website, there is now a notice attached that reads, "We regret to inform you that this product has been discontinued."
L'Oreal assured that it will soon be releasing an "improved formulation" of Effaclar Duo that’s been in development since 2024.
