I feel just awful :(

[catnapper]

Allen's Feline Acne is really really bad - worse than ever - but getting better. If that makes any sense. His chin is just exploded in acne, and monster black heads. I clean it three times a day. It takes me twenty minutes to gingerly swipe it with a cotton ball, and he screams his head off the entire time

I feel like I'm such a meanie for doing it, and he runs from me all day long afterwards. I just cleaned him for the second time today, and the amount of blood! Just lightly touching the chin with the cotton ball makes the acne burst and bleed profusely. Then the rubbing alcohol on the cotton ball stings and he screams. I mean SCREAMS. They must hear me three blocks away.

I swear, I am extremely gentle, but it still hurts him. I know this needs to be done. It looks REALLY bad right now, but I can see how the infection is "breaking" (pardon the pun) and if I don't clean it as it breaks, I'm afraid worse bacteria will fill the holes and things could get far worse very fast. Is there anything easier? Just water perhaps, followed by an application of Neosporin?

Right now he is eating his reward of wet food for being so good. I swear any other cat would have bitten me a dozen times over. He was in some major pain but he never bit. He knows its his reward and is NOT letting the others in on his feast

[Craftlady]

I would use hydrogen proxide, it's so much more gentle on the skin (wont sting like full rubbing alcohol product) and it has both cleaning and healing properties. Good idea to keep using the Neosporin because that is helping keep bacteria out and promotes healing. Good Luck

[Cataholic]

I would definetely lose the rubbing alcohol. Definetely.

I wonder, if like human acne, the more drying agent you apply, the more oil the skin secretes. So, by drying it out many times a day it is actually just producing more oil to keep up with the drying process. I don't know that kitty acne works the same way as ours, but, if so...well, you are in a vicous cycle.

[kuhio98]

When Pepper was going through her bout of acne (sounds like it was very slight compared to Allen's), the vet mentioned that they actually have to do surgery in extreme cases. Where they peel back the skin and scrape away the folicles that are infected. Has your vet ever mentioned that possibility?

I don't even want to think how much "kitty plastic surgery" would cost. But it might be worth asking about.

[catnapper]

I was using Hydrogen Peroxide and the vet said to never use it around the mouth because it induces vomiting, and she said to use the rubbng alcohol. Sigh. I just want to do what is right for my boy. Now I am very confused! I'll use whichever is best. I have bottles of both.

He has forgiven me though! He was sitting in my office with me, and I laid on the floor next to him... he didn't run, and laid there allowing me to pet him. He even started to purr! I do think he realizes this is for his own good. He must feel better after tonight's cleaning - the pressure must have been tremendous since they came out so easily and bled so much. They must really hurt and itch. Imagine how he feels, not being able to clean them himself. Poor big guy.

[catnapper]

Originally posted by kuhio98
When Pepper was going through her bout of acne (sounds like it was very slight compared to Allen's), the vet mentioned that they actually have to do surgery in extreme cases. Where they peel back the skin and scrape away the folicles that are infected. Has your vet ever mentioned that possibility?

I don't even want to think how much "kitty plastic surgery" would cost. But it might be worth asking about.

Ouch, that sounds terrible. This is his first ever case of feline acne. I am certain its directly related to his weight gain, and the fact that once he reached a certain "extra-fluffiness" he stopped grooming himself properly. He's slowly loosing weight, and starting to groom himself again. I will NEVER let him near kitten food ever again! He gained too much wieght way too quickly.

I would hope that Allen's is a single case never to be repeated again. If I ever notice him not grooming himself properly I will groom him nightly myself. I would hate to have to put him (and my pocketbook) through that surgery!

[jenluckenbach]

I was told that the rubbing alcohol was used BECAUSE it is a drying agent. *shrugs* Peroxide is used to induce vomitting, but if you just use enough to wipe him clean, you should not have a lot of problems. Maybe use the alcohol just 1 out of the 3 times daily (?)

[Nomilynn]

when Tilly's was quite bad, she was perscribed a very low dose of prednisone. I was told to wash the chin with hot water that I could stand to the touch, followed by a specially formulated cat acne soap that has peroxide in it. It cleared up in 10days and she has not needed prednisone since.

I hope it gets better!

[Craftlady]

" Treatment for the condition varies but often times use of an antibiotic soap, benzyl peroxide, or human acne pads can help clear up the infection. In severe cases, oral antibiotics may also be prescribed. "

The above was quoted from a vet on a site talking about kitty acne.

[NoahsMommy]

Phoebe is my acne girl. I clean her chin each night and she hates it too. She's more docile with me, so she doesn't scream..but I can tell she doesn't enjoy that time.

What helped my cats was Oxydex from the vet. Can you get that?

[smokey the elder]

Benzoyl peroxide is milder than hydrogen peroxide. It is used in human acne meds. (Stridex, etc.) That might work for poor kitty.

[catnapper]

Originally posted by smokey the elder
Benzoyl peroxide is milder than hydrogen peroxide. It is used in human acne meds. (Stridex, etc.) That might work for poor kitty.

I looked just for some benzoyl peroxide and couldn't find a bottle of it. All I saw were Clearasil pads and such. Is that the only way I can buy it? I did buy some Clearasil type cream to put on his chin, but since it was so infected, I used the Neosporin instead.

Can you tell I'm clueless here?

[Uniqueviking]

I'd try a soap free skin wash containing tea tree oil.

[Craftlady]

benzoyl peroxide

I dont believe it comes in a bottle all by itself. It comes in a product.

[catfamily]

I wash their chins with antibacterial soap and face cloth and then rinse clean with water.Then pat dry and apply OxyGel.
It works.I do it once a day for about a week and it's gone.