My indoor cat has chin 'flea dirt' and hates his carrier. Help?

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hello there! I have great news for you- it doesn't look like flea eggs, but it does look a different problem with a very cheap solution! It appears that Alex has something very common, called feline chin acne. This results in accumulations of blackheads on the chin. Rarely, these can become infected and need antibiotics, but it is almost always just a cosmetic problem. Signs of an infection requiring antibiotics would be swelling, redness, warmth to the touch, and greenish discharge. You can use an acne wipe with salicylic acid (oxy, stridex, etc.) on his chin once a day and that will help reduce the acne over time. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Aw, what a handsome boy! I’m sorry the treatment didn’t give him relief. You can try a product, such as [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), on the areas where he seems most bothered. Also, I would recommend a “no additive” cat litter such as [Yesterday’s News]() or [Feline Pine](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/feline-pine-cat-litter). It may be that his anxiety is contributing to his [over grooming](https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help), so you might ask your vet about trying him on a medication such as [fluoxetine](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/fluoxetine/). If none of this helps, it may be best to consider a consultation with a [veterinary dermatologist](https://www.acvd.org/tools/locator/locator.asp?ids=16_Find_Dermatologist) to get as directly to a diagnosis and proper treatment as possible. Thanks for asking PetCoach!