Cat acne or feline acne is fairly common in cats and many cases
are mild and respond to treatment in their early stages. If
left untreated, symptoms can become severe and very unpleasant.
Secondary bacterial infections may also develop.
There is no cure for cat acne ... but it can be controlled.
It normally first appears on chin and in milder cases appears
as small black dots resembling blackheads,
known as comedomes.
Although easily seen on light and short haired cats, these
lesions will be less visible on longhaired breeds. Felines with
greasy fur are often more prone to develop a cat acne problem.
(Thanks Oliver and Oscar for volunteering for the photos.)
What causes cat acne?
Your cat's sebaceous glands produce an oil (sebum).
It waterproofs your cat's fur, lubricates the skin and is also
used for territorial marking. Although researchers have not yet
determined the exact cause, it has been suggested that overactive
sebaceous glands play a key role in the development of feline
acne.
If too much sebum is produced, hair follicles
can become plugged and the comedomes will appear.
Some of the many other factors that can also play a role:
... dirty chins (cats don't clean under their chins when
grooming)
... plastic food dishes
... existing allergies
... an already weakened immune system
... stress or a change in your cat's environment ...
moving,
a new family member
or maybe a neighborhood bully cat
is roaming around
Cat chin acne can appear as early as six months of age. It may
surface only once, occur occasionally or be a life long problem
for your pet. Hormones are not a factor, as they are in dogs.
Both female and male cats of any breed can develop the acne
and the severity of acne will vary from cat to cat.
The comedomes of the cat acne appear
on both the chin and lip. They are clustered
together giving the chin a dirty appearance.
Many cases are mild to moderate ... and will require
minimal treatment. My cat Sunnyman had one comedome breakout
and then the acne disappeared. I did stop using plastic food
bowls.
On the other hand, if left untreated,
symptoms of cat acne can get a lot nastier
Secondary bacterial infections may develop. Your cat's hair
follicles can become infected (folliculitis) resulting
in the appearance of papules (raised, solid
bumps) and pustules (blister like bumps,
looking like pimples). If they burst scabbing or crusting
will occur. If they become itchy, your cat will want to scratch,
creating further injury.
In severe cases of feline acne the entire chin can
become inflamed and swollen. Hair loss and
a massive drainage of pus can occur around
the affected care. This skin condition can also be quite painful.
How is cat chin acne diagnosed?
Your veterinarian can often make a diagnosis based on a physical
examination.
There are several other medical conditions that can easily
be confused with feline acne, such as ringworm (which is actually
a fungal infection), yeast infections or food allergies. Your
veterinarian may perform skin scrapings, cultures and biopsies
to rule out the existence of other medical problems.
Feline acne treatment
Some home remedies to control
mild acne are gentle cleansing of your cat's chin with:
... a mild anti-bacterial soap
... a benzyl peroxide based gel, ointment or shampoo
... chlorhexidine, which is a disinfecting agent used as
a surgical scrub
These help control the formation of comedomes and levels
of bacteria. Don't use human medications to treat feline
acne unless advised to do so by your vet.
The healing properties of Epsom Salts have been known for
generations
An inexpensive home treatment to discourage infection and
promote healing is a gentle soaking of
the affected area with Epsom salts and water, once or twice
daily (available at your pharmacy). To apply use a folded
cloth applied gently to the affected area.
In severe cases of feline acne, treatments become more complex
Antibiotics, anti fungal therapy (if a secondary yeast infection is present), retinoids
or steroids are some of the remedies your vet may prescribe.
Preventing Cat Acne
... Help your cat to keep its chin clean. Gently wipe under
the chin with a wet facecloth.
... Some cats are allergic to plastics and dyes. Plastic
bowls tend to get nicked and scratched and are also porous
... allowing bacteria to collect and multiply.
Replace plastic food and water bowls with stainless steel,
glass or ceramic dishes.
... Don't use any bowls that are chipped or damaged.
... Clip the hair under your cat's chin.
... If your cat is a messy eater, switch to a food that is
less messy.
... Ensure your cat's diet includes essential fatty acid
supplements to help maintain healthy skin.
________________________________________________________________
Only your veterinarian is
able to properly diagnose
and provide treatment for your pet.
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