Differin Agrees to Settlement Over Contamination in Acne Products

Galderma Laboratories has agreed to a $990,000 settlement to resolve claims that it misled consumers about possible benzene contamination in its Differin acne products.

The lawsuit alleged that Galderma failed to warn consumers that three of its benzoyl peroxide-based Differin products could contain benzene, a known human carcinogen linked to leukemia and other blood cancers. According to the complaint, consumers would not have purchased the products — or would have paid less — if they'd known about the potential contamination.

Galderma has not admitted any wrongdoing.

The settlement covers anyone who purchased any of the following products between January 1, 2020 and February 19, 2026:

Differin Daily Deep Cleanser (5% benzoyl peroxide), Differin Acne Spot Treatment (10% benzoyl peroxide), and Differin Maximum Strength Acne Foaming Cleanser (10% benzoyl peroxide).

Important: The Differin Adapalene Gel that most people know the brand for is not part of this settlement. This is specifically about the benzoyl peroxide product line.

If you bought any of these products, you can file a claim for $9 per product. With proof of purchase — receipts, online order confirmations, or similar documentation — there's no limit to how many products you can claim. Without proof of purchase, you can claim up to three products for a total of $27.

You have until May 19, 2026 to file your claim.

The case is Williams v. Galderma Laboratories LP, Case No. 1:24-cv-02222, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. A final approval hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2026.

Download ClassyAction to file your claim in minutes and get a reminder before the deadline.