Some acne treatments may produce carcinogenic benzene. This was reported by Health Day.
One of the active ingredients in acne products is benzoyl peroxide. It can form benzene if not stored properly, according to a new report by an independent laboratory in the United States. Moreover, concentrations of this dangerous carcinogen can be 800 times higher than safe ones.
The laboratory found benzene in the product as well as benzene gas in the air around it. Its concentration was 1200 times higher than the safe threshold. But the temperature was quite high (70 degrees Celsius) and the exposure was long (17 hours). Similar conditions are possible if you leave the product in a warm car.
Other acne treatments tested containing salicylic acid or adapalene did not pose a risk of benzene formation.
Previous scientists I learnedIt turns out that these two factors increase the risk of death in women by almost three times.