New research # 15  –    Acne products

Acne  products are being sold world wide  in huge quantity. Acne products are used by  most female population of our world.  Some male also use them to treat their face pimples.  Today’s time is ” Fashion time ” .  Young girls, single, married, even old women use these acne products. To look beautiful is the craze of every female. During reaching adult age, pimples appear on face .  Some people squeeze them to bring out  puss and blood in the pimples. In this way , pimple could be  “dead” leaving a black spot on the face. Experts do not advise to do this, specially to a female.  Skin specialists advise to use some acne products. Using such acne product have some side effects. We will talk about them.

Contents:

• What is acne?
• Ingredients of acne products.
• Effects of benzoyl peroxide.
• More evidence.
• Storage of acne products.

What is Acne .

• Acne refers to the appearance of blemishes, or small, inflamed bumps, on the surface of the skin. Acne typically appears on the face, chest, or back but can also appear in other places. It affects millions of people, regardless of age, ethnicity, skin type, and gender. Acne scars leave a black mark on face after healing. Females are more cautious about acne. The manufacturers of Anne products know this interest .That is  why we  see lot of different acne products in the market.

Ingredients of acne products.

According to a report, a testing company ” Valisure ” tested some acne products. They found that many topical acne products  contain Benzene , which is a colourless chemical. Benzene is a colourless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum. It is used in chemical synthesis. Its use as solvent has been reduced because of its carcinogenic properties .  A carcinogen is a substance, organism or agent capable of causing cancer. Carcinogens may occur naturally in the environment (such as ultraviolet rays in sunlight and certain viruses) or may be generated by humans (such as automobile exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke). The testing company found that many acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide will produce high levels of benzene when they are exposed to hot temperature. If acne products are stored in a wash room , where hot water is used during shower, or acne products are kept in a car and the  car is parked under the sun , the chances of benzene production are greater from acne products.

Effects of benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl Peroxide has some serious side effects on human body specially on face. Serious skin reactions (eg, skin irritation, contact dermatitis) including pain, irritation, itching, burning, redness, peeling, dryness, scaling, or stinging of the skin can occur during treatment with this medicine. Your doctor may tell you to use a moisturizer to treat skin irritation.  When the acne products having  benzoyl peroxide as their an ingredient are kept in warm temperature, the benzoyl peroxide produce high levels of benzene.  Exposure to benzene increases the risk of developing  Leukemia and other blood disorders. Leukemia is a broad term for cancers of the blood cells. The type of leukemia depends on the type of blood cell that becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55, but it is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15 .

Benzene is considered group one carcinogen , just like to asbestos and lead. There are enough proof to believe that benzene can cause cancer. The testing company ” Valisure” has filed a “Citizen petition ”  requesting Food and Drug Administration  to go through the products using benzene , and further action. Dr. Christopher G.Bunick MD, PHD, associate professor of dermatology , at Yale School of Medicine and a Yale Medicine dermatologist said as under :

” There are many acne products available to use besides benzoyl peroxide. If a patient is concerned  enough, then seek an alternative. More epidemiology studies are needed , but this report raises enough health concern that the benzene issue needs to be taken seriously by regulatory agencies and manufacturers “.

More evidence.

Beside the above facts, here are some  more evidence  as under ;

• Continuous exposure , even low levels of benzene has been considered  a link to cancer.
• Researchers  believe that any amount  of benzene can increase cancer risk.
• Researchers also believe that there is no amount of benzene which can be considered ” safe”.
• American Cancer Society says that International Agency for research on Cancer has evidence that benzene exposure is a cause of the following type of cancer :
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes a large number of abnormal blood cells. AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.
• Benzene exposure has a link to Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia ( Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL).
• The benzene exposure can also be a cause of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia . Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). CLL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that usually gets worse slowly.
• Beside above, exposure to benzene can be a cause of Multiple Myeloma . Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies that protect us from infection. In myeloma, the cells grow too much, crowding out normal cells in the bone marrow that make red blood cells, platelets, and other white blood cells.
• The effects of benzene exposure does not end here. The effects  of benzene  exposure could  be cause of  Non Hodgkin Lymphoma . Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lymph system. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be indolent or aggressive. Older age, being male, and having a weakened immune system can increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Recent research from the UK found that even low levels of benzene exposure has the risk of death, various cancers and heart diseases.
• Keeping in view the above side effects, the Food and Drug Administration of USA banned the use of benzene in drugs .The FDA has set a limit of 2 ppm  (ppm is the number of units of mass of a contaminant per million units of total mass ) of benzene to add in drugs , if its inclusion is unavoidable.

Storage of acne products.

Dr. Christopher G.Bunick MD, PHD, associate professor of dermatology , at Yale School of Medicine and a Yale Medicine dermatologist said :

” It’s been known for over 100 years that benzoyl peroxide can break down benzene ” .

High temperature accelerate the process of benzoyl peroxide’s production of  benzene , Benzene exposure leads to cancer risk. So what to do ”

To be safe, the  acne products that are  made with benzoyl peroxide , should not be stored in a wash room. It is recommended that such acne products  should be kept in a refrigerator. ( Not in freezer). In this way, the cold temperature will delay breakdown of benzoyl peroxide into benzene .Some  manufacturers of acne products are using other components for their acne  products . While buying acne products , it is a good idea to check the ingredients of acne products printed on the packing. If you find that the benzoyl  peroxide is a part of the medicine, then ask the sales man to show another acne product which is without benzoyl peroxide.

source: healthline.com

We recommend to read our article  ” New research #14- Zilebesiran injection “. This article explain a new injection which can control high blood pressure for six months just for one dose.