How To Treat Cat Acne

How Much Does It Cost To Treat A Cat With Cat Acne

It is impossible to estimate the cost of treating cat acne, as there is a wide range of different severity of the problem. A mild case may need minimal intervention, while a severe case may need ongoing investigations and treatments over many months. You should ask your veterinarian for a detailed estimate before agreeing to proceed with treatment.

What Is ‘chin Acne’

This disease is called cat acne or, more formally, follicular keratinization. The medical name just tells us that our cats hair follicles are blocked by an excessive production of keratin. Keratin is a protein found in the outer layer of skin. When the keratin is “trapped” in the hair follicle it creates an appearance of a dirty chin on your cat. But it actually is blackheads or whiteheads.

Bacteria can invade the comedones and result in pustules . When cases become severe, your cats chin may lose hair, become red, and even bleed. The hair follicles become more inflamed and large sores that resemble boils can form . Once furunculosis occurs, the area can be painful.

Can My Cat Die From Feline Acne

A cat dying from feline acne alone is unheard of. There is a very slight chance that if the acne is serious enough, the cat may develop a secondary infection which could, technically, infect the cats bloodstream and in theory kill them. This situation is far-fetched, however, and your cat will doubtfully go through anything worse than temporary discomfort.

So, nope. Your cats not going to die from a breakout.

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How To Identify And Treat Cat Acne

Pesky pimples here and there are normal for humans. And major breakouts, especially among teens, are a common and often recurring part of puberty, and sometimes adult life. When our sebaceous glands overproduce sebum, our pores can get clogged, infection can occur, and behold– the pimple. But we bet you didnât know that our feline companions can also get acne. Thatâs right, just like us. And it is just as common.

The skin condition can be mild to severe, and can appear anywhere on the body as black heads, white heads, red bumps, or watery crusts of skin. Depending on the severity, the visible symptoms may indicate there are other dermatological issues at play, such as allergies, boils, or a more serious bacterial infection.

To successfully alleviate any discomfort your cat might be in, and also prevent further ailments, it is crucial to identify the condition, find its source, get a proper diagnosis, and seek safe, pet-friendly treatment for your cat.

Cats Are Susceptible To Developing Acne Just As Us Humans Here Is What You Need To Know If You Start Noticing Stubborn Pimples That Wont Go Away

Unfortunately, acne is not a problem reserved for humans. Cat acne also exists and can affect felines quite often. Although its still unclear why it develops, there are a few things a cat owner should know to help their pet get back to their normal self. Keep reading to find out how feline acne manifests and what cat acne treatment is most effective in alleviating the condition.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Cat Acne

Cat acne, or feline acne, is a cosmetic disease, but it usually requires lifelong on-again, off-again symptomatic treatment to keep it under control. Most of the time there are just asymptomatic comedones on the chin, lower lip, and sometimes on the upper lip. There is the possibility that pustules will form if a secondary infection is present. In very severe cases, the skin around the chin can become very thick and edematous and even scarred from repeated infections and treatments.

Dont confuse cat acne with other diseases such as mange , ringworm , contact dermatitis , Malassezia dermatitis or eosinophilic granuloma complex. It is important to rule all these diseases out with the appropriate testing by a veterinarian, states Dr. McCormick-Rantze.

Other Helpful Prevention Tips

• Having your cat regularly groomed helps in the prevention of chin acne as well as other potential skin issues. If bathing at home, use a hypoallergenic shampoo such as Hylyt
• Skin support supplements such as pre-and probiotics and fish oil, like this one from Nordic Naturals, specifically formulated for cats and small dog breeds
• Take measures to control stress with calming products, such as VetriScience Composure Treats or Feliway pheromone wall diffuser or spray, for use on bedding

In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods and they have never forgotten this. They want to always look their best, and chin acne prevents this. So help them maintain good hygiene and monitor their skin routinely to help prevent and treat their acne.

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Medicated Shampoo Or Wipes

Chlebowski agrees that canine or feline acne is best treated topically instead of with oral medication. She often prescribes medicated shampoo with chlorhexedine as the active ingredient and recommends medicated wipes as another form of topical treatment. In severe cases, your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic or, for cases of acne caused by a yeast infection, antifungal medication in conjunction with medicated shampoo or wipes.

Recovery And Management Of Cat Acne

If your cat is plagued with chin acne, remember this is usually only a superficial problem and not one that will have serious impacts on your cats overall health.

Most cases of feline chin acne are relatively harmless and respond well with improved hygiene.

The condition does become painful if it reaches the point where lesions swell and/or scab, so this is the point where more aggressive treatment is required to manage your cats acne.

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Cat Acne: How To Identify And Treat It

Reviewed for accuracy on April 13, 2020 by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Did you know that cat acne is a completely legitimate veterinary issue? It requires attention and care just like the human version. Here, were outlining the common causes of cat acne and describing what it looks like so you can identify it on your own feline. Were also giving you advice on how to prevent and treat cat acne to ensure your kitty looks and feels their best.

Cat acne is very similar to human acne both in appearance and common triggers. It occurs where sebaceous glands are located, which for cats are around the mouth, chin, tail, and eyelids. Although glands are found in all these places, cat acne occurs most commonly around the chin and mouth, since this area can be pretty difficult to keep clean.

In terms of what causes cat acne, researchers are still trying to figure everything out exactly . What we do know is that poor grooming and overactive sebaceous glands that block the hair follicles can often lead to acne formation on felines.

Many kitties innately use their paws and tongue to clean themselves. Theyll also rub their faces against objects, which helps to exfoliate and clean. Not every kitty does this enough, though. Sometimes, poor grooming is a result of age and inability to clean as effectively as during the younger years. Stressed or anxious cats are more likely to neglect their self-care, as well.

Prevention And Treatment Of Feline Acne

Does your cat look like she has some dirt on her chin? It could be feline acne, a common skin condition in cats. What looks like a dirty chin could be a mild to moderate case of cat acne. Those black specks are actually blackheads, similar to blackheads in humans. In more severe cases, a cat can develop red sores and lesions on the chin area.

Some cats are more prone to acne than others. This includes cats who dont groom properly, produce excess sebum or keratin, have clogged hair follicles, or have allergies. Your veterinarian can perform a simple test to diagnose acne and rule out any other skin conditions.

Your vet may clean the area and clip the fur, and then apply a topical treatment to your cats chin. The treatment will continue at home, with continued application of the ointment. Hot compresses can also be helpful. If the acne has progressed to an infection, antibiotics may be required.

Cat health experts recommend that you switch your cats bowls from plastic or ceramic to stainless steel. Some cats are sensitive to plastic. Stainless steel is also more resistant to bacteria growth than ceramic. Wash the bowls in the dishwasher every day using the heat dry cycle to make sure they are as clean as possible. Make sure your cats chin is clean and dry after eating and drinking.

Feline acne can reappear, so continued treatment with topical medication and hot compresses may be needed.

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What Is Chin Acne

Chin acne in cats is a poorly understood disorder of follicular keratinization. Keratinization refers to the overproduction of keratin, a protein found in the outer layer of skin. If this excess keratin is trapped in the hair follicle, comedones or ‘blackheads’ form. Pustules or ‘pimples’ may form if bacteria infect the comedones. Chin acne in cats is similar to the acne that humans get. Cat acne is characterized by the development of folliculitis and furunculosis .

How To Treat Cat Acne: Everything You Need To Know

We arent the only ones who suffer from acne a lot of animals do as well. Cats are the best example of that. They even get it from stress and poor hygiene habitsjust like we do!

But treating acne for cats cant be the same as humans, right?

I mean, a cat wont take oral medications or go through chemical peeling. Thats unless its a pretty skin-conscious cat.

Ill tell you how to treat cat acne in case you suspect your cat has it. And, Ill tell you how acne is different from other skin conditions and how to diagnose it.

Cat Attitudes is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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What Is The Treatment For Cat Acne

Although cat acne usually disappears just as suddenly as it appears, there are cases where treatment is necessary, especially if the breakouts are regular or they start turning into a severe form of acne.

Its important to talk to your vet before starting any treatment, and dont use human acne treatments on your pet, as they are too harsh for a cats skin. Here are some of the most common solutions to cat acne:

How To Manage Feline Acne

The good news is that most cases of feline acne are mild, and will clear up with washing of the area with an antibacterial cleanser, like chlorhexidine, a few times daily. In severe cases where there is a deep skin infection present, your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics. It can help to try and limit potential causes as well. Try swapping from a plastic food bowl to glass or stainless steel and wash both the food and water bowl daily. If your cat seems to neglect grooming her chin, washing it daily can also help to stop the buildup of sebum and prevent acne.

Dr Teagan Lever

When Teagan’s not busy sharing her knowledge of all things pets as Pet Circle’s resident vet, she is the human companion of two intense English staffies and a three-legged cat named Steve.

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Cat Acne Treatment And Home Remedies

Hall says one of the best home remedies for cat acne is to change from plastic food and water bowls to glass, ceramic, or steel. Porous plastic scratches and cracks too easily, creating a nasty little playground for bacteria.

“I also strongly recommend cleaning bowls daily with hot water and soap,” she adds. This is also a sure-fire method to prevent future flare-ups. For hairless kitties, she tells pet parents to frequently clean their skin with medicated wipes to remove excessive oil and debris.

At-home cat acne treatments of benzoyl peroxide are usually too harsh for kitty’s skin, so follow your veterinarian’s guidelines for using over-the-counter products. Generally, it’s best not to apply typical human pimple medications to treat cat acne unless your vet advises it. However, it’s possible that in mild cases, once the underlying cause is identified, they might suggest dabbing a bit of witch hazel onto the surface area.

More than likely, your vet will recommend using specially-formulated antiseptic/antifungal pet wipes that not only clean the area but also treat bacterial infection.

If your sweet furball has a more severe case of feline chin acne, such as large pimples, swelling, or bleeding, it’s time for professional treatment. After a thorough exam , your vet will gain a clearer picture of his condition, how to treat your cat’s acne, and the reason for it.

How Do You Get Rid Of Cat Acne

Treatment of cat acne usually involves cleaning the chin to remove the excess sebum, and reducing the formation of blackheads. However, sometimes other treatment options may also need to be considered:

• Warm compresses – to reduce swelling and inflammation

• Antiseborrheic shampoo – to clean the chin and flush out the hair follicles

• Clipping the fur in the affected area

• Antimicrobial ointments or gels

• Antibiotics – topical antibiotic creams and gels are of limited value as they are soon licked or cleaned off by cats. In severe cases where an infection is present, oral antibiotics are usually required. Treatment courses are often prolonged for 4-6 weeks due to the nature of the infection

• Steroids – short-term treatment with steroids may be needed in severe cases to reduce the inflammation and associated pain

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Cause And Symptoms Of Feline Acne

Your cat has two types of glands in his skin:

Sebaceous glands occur in large numbers on the chin, lips, top surface of the base of the tail, prepuce and scrotum. These secretions are meant to keep your cat’s fur waterproof and his skin moist and supple. When your cat’s sebaceous glands secrete too much sebum, feline acne can form.

Cats have a tendency to mark their territories, usually by rubbing their chins and faces against surfaces. If your cat leaves behind greasy, black spots on objects when he rubs against them to mark his territory, it could be a sign that his sebaceous glands are producing too much sebum. If your cat is prone to excessive marking behaviors, he’s probably at higher risk for developing feline acne.

Symptoms of feline acne include:

• Red, swollen pores, usually on the chin, head, or lips
• Some cats develop black, clogged pores
• Symptoms are usually mild but, when severe, they can lead to extreme irritation and secondary infection.

What Are The Clinical Signs Of Chin Acne

The most common clinical sign associated with chin acne is the dirty appearance of the chin. The lesions may appear on the chin, the lower lip and/or the upper lip. Careful examination will reveal the blackheads and infected follicles. The lips and chin may become swollen and inflamed. Chronic cases may have hard, crusty lesions that are sore when touched. If pain is present, furunculosis is most often the cause. Both male and female cats can develop chin acne.

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What Is Feline Acne

Acne is a common skin disorder in cats that is characterised by blackheads and inflammation on the chin and lips. It typically occurs in adult cats, with a median age of onset of four, and has no sex or breed predilections.

Sebaceous glands are small oil-producing glands located in the skin all over the body. Connected to the hair follicles, sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance composed of triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol.

What does sebum do?

• Sebum lubricates the skin and hair
• Acts as a chemical barrier against pathogens
• Reduces water loss from the skin

A collection of larger sebaceous glands are located on the eyelids, lips and chin and base of the tail. Sebaceous glands are involved in territorial marking, and any observant cat owner will have seen their cat rubbing his face and chin or back and tail on their favourite people or objects, over time this rubbing can leave dark greasy patches.

The hair follicles of cats with acne become clogged with sebum or keratin due to over-production of keratin, a protein in the outer layer of the skin), exposure to oxygen causes this build-up to turn a brown/black colour, hence the name blackheads . Over time, the follicle becomes inflamed, irritated and infected.

Clean The Affected Area

If your cats acne is due to an infection, you might want to give their chin a clean. Even if its not infected, cleaning the affected area can help to soothe the irritation as well as encourage sebum glands to resume normal oil production to keep the problem from becoming more severe.

We all know that cats dont enjoy bathing. Instead of dunking your furry friend in a bath, try spot cleaning. A medicated wipe can help you to clean your cats face without the fuss of water.

Vetericyn Pluss Feline Antimicrobial Facial Therapy is specially formulated to treat common cat skin issues that occur on cats faces, including feline acne. This non-toxic and alcohol-free spray is easy to apply to your cats face, flushing out pores and cleaning acne.

If you have an elderly cat who is unable to groom themself effectively, you might want to begin cleaning their face after every meal.

Note: You should not use any products intended to treat human acne. Cats skin has a different balance of oils, and some substances that are safe on human skin may be toxic to kitties.

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