My cat has black stuff under his chin. Is it acne? How to treat it?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

You can clean the area with a cotton ball and hydrogen peroxide or you can use acne pads with benzoyl peroxide if you have those. Do it morning and night and it should clear up. If it doesn't, have it seen by your vet in case she needs something else to help her heal.

There is a possibility this is related to flea dirt but it also could be related to feline chin acne, ringworm, food allergy, or dermatitis. It's a good idea to have Lolita on a quality flea preventative like Frontline, Revolution, or Feline Bravecto incase this is flea related. Feline chin acne can result from using plastic bowls so it's best to use stainless steel or ceramic bowls. You can use a gentle shampoo to keep the skin clean and remove some of the debris. If the issue persists then I'd recommend having Lolita examined by your veterinarian as skin samples may need to be checked for infection. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best wishes to you and Lolita!