by Mass General Brigham
Benzoyl peroxide is a cornerstone treatment for acne, without a clear alternative. However, concerns have been raised about the potential formation of benzene, a known carcinogen, in some benzoyl peroxide products. This issue, though possibly not clinically significant, raises safety questions and offers opportunities for improvement.
A team of investigators pursued this research to discover how product formulation and production processes might influence benzene levels in benzoyl peroxide containing acne products, aiming to identify strategies to minimize risks. To explore this, the team re-analyzed data for 111 products, examining factors like product type, product age, and ingredients.
The study has been published in JAMA Dermatology.
They found that the production process and ingredient composition had a significant association with benzene levels.
For example, products with higher levels of benzene were more likely to have ingredients suggesting that they were exposed to higher temperatures during production, while products with reduced levels of benzene were more likely to have higher amounts of antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene) and acidic ingredients (benzoic acid).
According to the researchers, the findings suggest opportunities to improve formulation, production, and distribution of benzoyl peroxide containing products to reduce the likelihood of them degrading into benzene. In addition, the results refute concerns that benzoyl peroxide products degrade into meaningful levels of benzene at room temperature, and instead, much of the observed variation can be explained by formulation characteristics.
These findings add to the discussion regarding the safety of benzoyl peroxide containing products and provide actionable hypotheses to improve the safety of these important products.
The study highlights the importance of careful ingredient selection and production methods to make these treatments safer while maintaining their effectiveness. These findings can guide manufacturers and reassure consumers about the safety of benzoyl peroxide products.
Next steps include evaluating whether modifying formulation, production, and distribution practices can reduce the likelihood of benzene being present in benzoyl peroxide containing products.
More information: The role of formulation on benzene formation in benzoyl peroxide products, JAMA Dermatology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.6443
Journal information: JAMA Dermatology
Provided by Mass General Brigham
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