Title: Feline acne

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| name            = Feline acne
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| caption         = Advanced feline acne
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| field           = [[Veterinary medicine]]
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'''Feline acne''' is a problem seen in [[cats]] primarily involving the formation of [[blackhead]]s accompanied by inflammation on the cat's chin and surrounding areas that can cause lesions, alopecia, and crusty sores.&lt;ref name=SkinDiseases&gt;{{Cite book |author1=Gross, Thelma Lee |author2=Ihrke, Peter J. |author3=Walder, Emily J. |author4=K. Affolter, Verena | title=Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat: Clinical and Histopathologic Diagnosis |url=https://archive.org/details/skindiseasesdogc00ihrk |url-access=limited | year= 2005| publisher=Oxford| location= Ames, Iowa | isbn=978-0-632-06452-6 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/skindiseasesdogc00ihrk/page/n444 437]–439}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=MullerAndKirk&gt;{{Cite book |author1=Muller, George H. |author2=Kirk, Robert Warren |author3=Scott, Danny W. |author4=Miller, William L. |author5=Griffin, Craig E. | title=Muller and Kirk's Small animal dermatology | year=2001 | publisher=Saunders | location=Philadelphia (Pa.)  | isbn=978-0-7216-7618-0 | pages=1042–1043}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=AnEvaluation&gt;{{Cite news | author1=Jazic, E. |author2=Coyner, K. S. | author3=Loeffler, D. G. | author4= Lewis, T. P.| title= An Evaluation of the clinical, cytological, infectious and histopathological features of feline acne| year=2005| publisher= European Society of Veterinary Dermatology | pages=134–140}}&lt;/ref&gt; In many cases, symptoms are mild and the disease does not require treatment.&lt;ref name=SkinDiseases /&gt; Mild cases will resemble dirt on the cat's chin, but the &quot;dirt&quot; will not be brushed off. More severe cases, however, may respond slowly to treatment and seriously detract from the health and appearance of the cat. Feline [[acne]] can affect cats of any age, sex, or breed, although Persian cats are also likely to develop acne on the face and in the skin folds.&lt;ref name=SkinDiseases /&gt;&lt;ref name=FelineAcne&gt;{{Cite news |author1=Foster |author2=Smith | title=Feline Acne: Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Chin 'Blackheads' in Cats. | publisher=peteducation.com}}&lt;/ref&gt; This problem can happen once, reoccur, or persist throughout the cat's life.&lt;ref name=CatsCan&gt;{{Cite news |author1=Moore, Arden | title=Cats Can Get Acne Too | year=2002| publisher=Prevention| pages=170–174}}&lt;/ref&gt;

[[Sebaceous glands]] are skin glands that produce oil and are mostly found in the skin of the chin, at the base of the tail, and in the eyelids, lips, [[Foreskin|prepuce]], and scrotum. They are connected to [[hair follicle]]s. In acne, the skin pores become clogged with black sebaceous material, forming [[comedone]]s (also known as blackheads). Comedones can become irritated, swollen, infected, and ultimately pustules. These may elicit itching and discomfort due to swelling and bacterial growth inside infected glands.&lt;ref name=MullerAndKirk /&gt; Bacterial folliculitis occurs when follicles become infected with ''Staphylococcus aureus'' and is commonly associated with moderate-to-severe feline acne.&lt;ref name=Felinedermatology&gt;{{Cite news | author1=Scott, D. W. | author2=Miller, W. H. | author3=Erb, H. N.|title=Feline dermatology at Cornell University: 1407 cases (1988-2003) | year=2012| publisher=Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery| pages=307–316}}&lt;/ref&gt; Secondary fungal infections by ''[[Malassezia]]'' may also occur.&lt;ref name=MullerAndKirk /&gt;

Other conditions that can cause similar-appearing conditions include skin mites, ringworm, yeast infection, or autoimmune diseases such as the eosinophilic granuloma complex (&quot;rodent ulcers&quot;). These can be ruled out by a simple biopsy of affected cells.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |title=Skin Problems in Cats |url=https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/ss/slideshow-skin-problems-in-cats |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=WebMD |language=en}}&lt;/ref&gt;

Feline acne is one of the top five most common skin conditions that veterinarians treat.&lt;ref name=CatsCan/&gt;&lt;ref name=Felinedermatology /&gt;

==Causes==
Although the exact cause of feline acne is unknown, some causes include:

*Hyperactive sebaceous glands
*Poor hygiene
*Stress
*Developing secondary to fungal, viral, and bacterial infections
*Reaction to medication
*Eating or drinking from plastic containers. While it has commonly been suggested that cats are &quot;allergic&quot; to these containers, recent research suggests that plastic containers harbour bacteria due to irregular surfaces.
*[[Demodicosis]] or mange, causing itchiness and hair loss
*Suppressed immune system
*Hair follicles that don't function properly
*Rubbing the chin (to display affection or mark territory) on non-sanitized household items
*Hormonal imbalance

[[Obesity in pets|Obese cat]]s which have difficulty grooming themselves are predisposed to dry, flaky skin and feline acne.&lt;ref name=&quot;Lappin 2001&quot;&gt;{{cite book|editor1-last=Lappin|editor1-first=MR|title=Feline internal medicine secrets|date=2001|publisher=Hanley &amp; Belfus|location=Philadelphia|isbn=9781560534617|pages=311–315|chapter=Obesity and polyphagia}}&lt;/ref&gt;

==Treatment==
Topical treatments such as [[warm compresses]] to the chin area may be sufficient for mild cases.&lt;ref name=FelinePatient&gt;{{Cite book |author1=D. Norsworthy, Gary |author2=Crystal, Mitchell |author3=Grace, Sharon |author4=Patrick Tilley, Larry | title=The feline patient | year=2006 | publisher=Blackwell Publishing | location=Ames, Iowa  | isbn=978-0-7817-6268-7 | pages=339}}&lt;/ref&gt; Veterinary intervention may be required for treatment if a secondary infection occurs. &lt;ref name=MullerAndKirk /&gt; In this case, treatment may begin with clinical drainage of the [[pustule]]s and a course of oral antibiotics.&lt;ref name=MullerAndKirk /&gt;

Clearing the acne can be accomplished using an extra-soft bristled toothbrush or flea comb (one designated for this purpose) to brush the cat's chin. This will loosen debris and remove dried scabs. Epsom-salt compresses applied twice daily dry the affected area to relieve the inflammation and itchiness.&lt;ref name=CatsCan/&gt;

==Prevention==

Placing the cat's water in a shallow dish may prevent the chin from absorbing the bacteria in the water while the cat is drinking. If the cat is allergic to plastics or dyes, using a stainless-steel or glass dish is recommended.&lt;ref name=FelineAcne/&gt; Cats may also have food allergies that make the development of acne more likely, so that switching kibble or changing to a hydrolyzed diet may be effective.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|date=2018-08-24|title=Cat Acne? It's Real—and Here's How You Can Treat It|url=https://www.peta.org/living/animal-companions/preventing-treating-cat-acne/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=PETA|language=en-US}}&lt;/ref&gt; Maintaining good hygiene and grooming habits makes the development of feline acne less likely. Washing and exfoliating the chin with a gentle benzoyl-peroxide solution also may be preventive for further outbreaks.&lt;ref name=CatsCan/&gt;

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
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{{Domestic cat|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feline Acne}}
[[Category:Cat diseases]]
[[Category:Acneiform eruptions]]