5 Dermatologist-Approved Deodorants to Shop After the Benzene Recall

You may want to double-check what deodorant or antiperspirant you're using before applying. In an independent study conducted by Vailsure, a pharmacy group committed to testing popular consumer products, 59 antiperspirant, and deodorant body sprays were discovered to contain benzene, a chemical commonly used to make plastics, resins, drugs, and detergents, among other products. Valisure has since petitioned the United States Food and Drug Administration to issue a recall; the FDA confirmed to CNN that it's investigating, and in the meantime, Procter & Gamble has removed its affected products from stores.

In the short term, benzene exposure can result in "nausea, vomiting, weakness, and nervous system problems," Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Health. The Centers for Disease Control notes that with continued exposure, there is a risk of infection, bleeding, and leukemia.

It's not exactly clear how benzene ended up in the body sprays, but Valisure CEO and founder David Light attributed it to possible "quality problems" in a statement to Health. Anar Mikailov, MD, founder of KP Away, pointed to an earlier recall that impacted sunscreens containing benzene, telling Health, "It seems like the benzene contamination in both sunscreens and deodorants is most likely due to the propellant component rather than the product formulation."

The news doesn't mean you need to swear off deodorant entirely. Instead, Mikailov suggests temporarily avoiding aerosol deodorant, while Debra Jaliman, MD, advises looking at the ingredient list (now and always). Additionally, you can find deodorants and antiperspirants approved by both Mikailov and Jaliman below—prices start at just $7.