Report: L'Oreal Recalling BPO Product Due to Benzene

L’Oreal SA is recalling La Roche-Posay’s benzoyl peroxide acne treatment, Effaclar Duo, in the US because of “concern that the creams are contaminated with benzene,” Bloomberg News reported.

L’Oreal said testing found trace levels of benzene in one lot product, according to Bloomberg.

“Therefore, 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,” L’Oreal said in a statement to Bloomberg, though the company added that a new formulation of the product soon will be available.

The news comes just days after Practical Dermatology Editorial Board member Christopher Bunick, MD, FAAD, published new data in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and presented that data at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Practical Dermatology’s coverage of that presentation will be available this week.

Dr. Bunick also spoke to Practical Dermatology about the issue last year, and that video can be seen here.