Consult Moll Law Group About Your Acne Cream or Cleanser Lawsuit
A first study of the acne creams and facewashes by Valisure found that high levels of benzene could form in benzoyl peroxide products, but the study had been criticized for testing products that were maintained at the high temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. In March, Valisure had petitioned the FDA to recall those acne creams and cleansers that had large quantities of benzene. The FDA had said it wanted to verify the lab’s claims, and in the summer, a spokesperson stated that the agency was still researching the issue.
In the second study, more than 100 benzoyl peroxide acne creams, face washes and other products were tested. The tested products were those that are available at major stores in six states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas. Unlike with the earlier study, these products were kept at room temperature. Around one-third of these products contained large quantities of benzene, which is linked to developing cancer. For instance, researchers found that Proactiv included 18 times the amount of benzene that’s allowed in U.S. drugs. And researchers found that a face wash made by CVS had 13 times the levels of the carcinogen that the FDA believes is safe.
In analyzing these findings, the researchers, including those from the Valisure lab in Connecticut, which had initially discovered the high levels in an earlier study, and Yale and Long Island universities, said that the acne treatments made from benzoyl peroxide had unacceptably high levels of benzene. The study also found that benzene levels could substantially increase if they were exposed to UV light at body temperature; this means that consumers could face heightened risks when going out in the sun after applying cream or cleanser. The study was peer-reviewed.
About seventy creams and cleansers, including the Neutrogena and Clean & Clear products, only contained benzene levels that exceeded the federal limit when they were exposed to heat. And some Clearasil products included benzene in 2 parts per million, which is just over the limit.
When a product is designed, marketed, or manufactured defectively and for that reason causes injury to a consumer, it may be appropriate to pursue damages in a product liability lawsuit. Damages may include tangible harms like medical bills, wage loss, replacement services, and out-of-pocket costs, as well as intangibles like loss of earning capacity, loss of consortium, mental anguish, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
If you were harmed by acne cream, you should talk to the knowledgeable dangerous drug lawyers of Chicago-based Moll Law Group about your legal options Please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.