How do you treat cat acne/dirty chin?

Answers:
Treatment

Treatment of cases of feline acne and stud tail involves removal of excess sebum and hence prevention of comedone formation and secondary infection. An antibacterial surgical scrub, such as chlorhexidine, can initially be used for this purpose two or three times daily. In mild cases no further treatment is necessary, but in cases showing extensive secondary infection, antibiotic therapy, preferably selected on the basis of bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, will be required.

Topical preparations are of very limited value for severe cases because they are soon licked or cleaned off by the patient, and antibiotics should be given orally for four to six weeks. Severe cases may also be treated with steroids to reduce the inflammation. Keeping the acne at bay may require clipping and daily application of chlorhexidine. Other treatments which have been tried include mupirocin (Bactroban - a human drug not licenced for use in cats). Topical retinoids may be considered for long term control of a mild case. Supplementation with essential fatty acids (evening primrose oil/fish oil) orally on a daily basis has been reported to help some cases. Most cases respond satisfactorily but some cases with serious secondary infection may require prolonged treatment.

There may be recurrence and in some cases the only method of controlling the excessive sebum secretion is to continue daily cleansing indefinitely.

Occasionally acne is associated with fungal infections including dematophytosis (ringworm) and, rarely, with demodectic mange.

Prevention

In some cats with a tendency to chin acne, the use of ceramic or metal feeding dishes, instead of plastic ones, may help to prevent the problem from recurring or deteriorating. Chin acne is sometimes more severe in cats which are messy feeders, so scrupulous attention to hygiene after meals, or a change to food which can be eaten more neatly, may help to reduce the problem.


For a mild case you can simply use a mild soap and water to wash the affected area and then apply vitamin E oil.

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There's not a whole lot that needs to be done.

Your vet can give you an antibiotic cream that you can apply to avoid infection when those little scabby bumps come off, and that's about it. Do get the cream, since an infection would be much worse than the acne, and the chin isn't a very clean spot so it's an easy place to get infected.

Prevention is usually easy, too. Cats often get chin acne from eating and drinking out of plastic or ceramic bowls. Those materials tend to retain tiny amounts of food residue. The solution is stainless steel food and drinking bowls. You can find them at pet stores.

If kitty is already using stainless steel bowls, then I have no further ideas, other than to get a good supply of antibiotic cream.

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First thing is to change from plastic bowls (if you use them) to either ceramic or stainless steel since this is the most common way for cats to contract acne. If it's not too bad and not infected, wash the area several times a day with basic soap and water-making sure to rinse thoroughly-and it should resolve itself with time, but if you do see signs of infection, get your cat to the vet for some antibiotics.
Good luck to you and your kitty!

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I use glass bowls -- they are inexpensive and easy to wash. I wash mine daily and use fresh, filtered water to fill them.

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