Feline acne

Feline acne is a common problem seen in cats. In most cases symptoms are are mild and pass unnoticed. More severe cases, however, may respond slowly to treatment and seriously detract from the appearance of the cat. Like humans acne can affect cats of any age, sex or breed.

The sebaceous glands are mostly found in chin, base of the tail, eyelids, lips, prepuce and scrotum. They are connected to the hair follicles.

In acne, the follicles become clogged with black sebaceous material, forming comedones(also known as blackheads). These comedones become irritated, swollen & infected, leading to pustules. The cats may also experience itching and discomfort due to swelling and bacterial growth inside infected glands.

Main causes of feline acne
The main causes of feline acne are listed below:


 * Hyperactive sebaceous glands.


 * Poor grooming habits


 * Food allergies


 * Plastic food bowls are another cause of feline acne, because it is hard to remove bacteria from containers.


 * Stress on the animal can also aggravate acne