Q&A for How to Treat Feline Acne

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What can I give my cat for acne?

Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.

Natalie Punt, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Ask your vet for a recommendation. they might suggest an antimicrobial, antibiotic, or antifungal medication.

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Question

How do you get rid of cat acne?

Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD
Veterinarian
Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.

Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Using hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball to scrub the affected skin will help remove the lesions (which are caused by a buildup of oils). You should be gentle with hydrogen peroxide though, and consider talking to a vet.

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Question

Would a solution of apple cider vinegar and water soaked on a cotton ball and lightly used on the chin area work?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

The key to preventing feline acne or reducing the severity of a flare up is cleanliness. Any gentle cleaning solution when used regularly will help. Diluted salt water or diluted chlorhexidine are good options. Apple cider vinegar will have a mild astringent effect, so there is a risk of drying out the skin, but when used diluted, this should be minimal and the cleansing effect beneficial.

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Question

Is feline chin acne painful?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Mild acne is not painful and the cat usually doesn't even know they have a spotty chin. However, severe acne that is infected will be itchy and uncomfortable, in the same way that any skin infection is.

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Question

When acne spots burst, does the pus look black and oily?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Yes, it can. These sound like ruptured acne spots that aren't infected. It's common for the spots to become infected, and then when they burst, the discharge is yellow-green.

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Question

What causes feline acne?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

The cause of acne is natural grease plugging the hair follicles. The deeper question as to why this happens, especially as this condition is linked to older cats, is not clear. Hygiene does play a role, so one thought is that older cats don't wash their chins as effectively as younger ones.

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Question

Is hydrogen peroxide safe for cats?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Never use neat hydrogen peroxide. It can be used as a skin disinfectant when diluted well. As a rule of thumb, dilute it well with water until the peroxide stops fizzing. Then soak cotton wool in the diluted solution and wipe it over the cat's chin.

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