My cat has black chin acne. Is it serious? What home remedies work?

Use a warm compress to soothe the area. Clean daily using dilute chlorhexidine or a mild cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide. Rinse the are thoroughly and pat dry. Try not to get any in his mouth. If the acne doesn't resolve, have Travis examined by your veterinarian.

I don't think it is skin mites. Blackhead (chin acne) is pretty common in cats and can be treated with daily Chlorhexidine solution OR you can use a topical human topical benzoyl peroxide gel 5%. Trimming away any long hairs is helpful as well.

You should use a plate for Fluffy’s food and clean it frequently since oils from food or a reaction to plastic bowls can lead to acne. Occasionally medicated benzoyl peroxide wipes or ointments like mupirocin are needed to help with acne. Depression shouldn’t be related and can be a sign of a number of diseases so if it continues and you’re concerned your should see a veterinarian.

Mild cases of chin acne are sometimes treated with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo or gel (2.5% concentration) daily until resolution and then treated one to two times weekly. I am not sure what products are available in the UK without a veterinary prescription, as the human over the counter benzoyl peroxide products are often a higher concentration and can be irritating to pets. Some products may be found online such as this https://www.chewy.com/vetoquinol-benzoyl-plus-shampoo-dogs/dp/109500?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Vetoquinol&utm_term=&gclid=CM7qoYmvmtQCFQYwaQodZOEJtw&gclsrc=aw.ds or Pyoben Gel or Oxydex Gel. Sometimes these guys also need topical antibiotics such as Mupirocin, which is prescription only in the US. Severe cases may need systemic medication.

It looks like feline chin acne. If he eats from plastic bowls, switch them out for glass, steel or ceramic bowls. Some cats are allergic to plastic. You can clean his chin twice daily with a Stridex acne pad (NOT the kind with salicylic acid, but the kind with benzoyl peroxide), or you can use a cotton ball with regular hydrogen peroxide to clean his chin. If it does not improve significantly in a few days or gets worse, please get him in to see your vet as this could indicate a more serious condition.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Mittens. Yes, it does look like she has feline acne. You should head to the vet to get it definitely diagnosed, and the vet can prescribe a medicated wash. At home, use glass or metal bowls for her food and water, as plastic ones hold bacteria and aggravate the acne. I'd see if you can get into a vet today or tomorrow. I hope this helps!

Hello there, I agree with your vet that Eve likely has feline chin acne. It can be frustrating to manage. You can try a different type of bowl, washing it more frequently, and using stridex pads on her chin. Here is a link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chin-acne-in-cats I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach!