(NaturalHealth365)  For many, dealing with stubborn pimples is a frustrating part of life, especially for teenagers who often face breakouts.  Pimples don’t just affect our appearance; they can also take a toll on our self-esteem and overall quality of life, impacting how we feel about ourselves in social situations and beyond.   Finding the right skincare products is a constant battle, and acne treatments seem like the go-to solution.

However, recent discoveries have raised concerns about the safety of these trusted remedies, shedding light on potential risks we hadn’t considered before.

Testing reveals the dangerous presence of benzene in benzoyl peroxide products

New evidence highlights the dangers of benzoyl peroxide acne treatment.  Such pimple-treating products have been revealed as unstable and even carcinogenic.  Reports indicate the use of such acne treatments leads to potentially cancerous benzene formation at dangerously high levels.  The risk of cancer is present in both over-the-counter and prescription benzoyl peroxide products.

The revelatory data stems from Valisure, a trailblazer in conducting objective pharmaceutical product analysis.  Valisure’s objective is to improve customer awareness and pharmaceutical industry quality control through comprehensive testing.  The organization reveals that benzene, a carcinogen, has the potential to form at elevated concentrations within benzoyl peroxide pimple treatment products.

Valisure’s eye-opening discovery

Valisure’s testing results indicate that benzoyl peroxide products currently available on the market have the potential to exceed the FDA’s conditionally restricted concentration limit of 2 parts per million (ppm) for benzene formation by more than 800 times.  The startling truth is that the evidence available to testers shows that the issue is broadly applicable to all benzoyl peroxide products on the market.

Analysis shows elevated benzene levels were identified in pimple treatment products and even in the air space surrounding such products.  This concerning finding reveals that benzene can move out of opened product packages, creating an inhalation risk.  For example, testers found that using Proactiv’s acne treatment in a warm vehicle emitted benzene volume at 1,270x the EPA’s allowable limit.

In other words, simply opening an acne treatment product in a confined space such as a vehicle increases the risk of cancer through mere inhalation.  Moreover, using a pimple treatment product in a space such as a bathroom also has the potential to lead to harmful inhalation with the potential for eventual cancer.

Do all acne treatments threaten human health?

Valisure analysis has resulted in the request to withdraw products containing benzoyl peroxide from the market.  However, the organization also tested other pimple treatment products.  Acne treatments with adapalene and salicylic acid appear to be safe for use.

Examples of acne treatments with benzoyl peroxide include but are not limited to the following:

• Clearasil Benzoyl Peroxide Cream
• Clinique Benzoyl Peroxide Cream by Estee Lauder
• Proactiv Benzoyl Peroxide Cream
• CeraVe Benzoyl Peroxide Cream
• Neutrogena Benzoyl Peroxide Gel
• Target Up & Up
• Sandra Lee Benzoyl Peroxide Lotion
• La-Roche-Posay Peroxide Cream

It is also worth noting that Valisure’s team determined that benzene in sunscreen and other products was the result of impurities stemming from altered ingredients.  In contrast, benzene in acne treatments stemmed from harmful benzoyl peroxide.  Often, the benzene limit was 600% greater than the limit allowed by the FDA.

‍Treating and preventing pimples naturally

Instead of paying for a chemical-laden pimple treatment that likely has benzene and other harmful additives, go all-natural.  Wash your face with soap and water in the morning and again at night before going to bed.  Use a facial cleanser to clear your pores before hitting the hay.

Additional all-natural acne treatment options include tea tree oil, green tea, rose water, aloe vera, and apple cider vinegar.  Tea tree oil is particularly effective as it has antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties.  Of course, this almost goes without saying, eating an organic diet that minimizes the consumption of processed foods will help to keep your skin healthy.

Sources for this article include:

Valisure.com
Childrenshealthdefense.org