Is feline folliculitis inflammatory?

Feline folliculitis is inflammatory and belongs to a skin disease. Feline folliculitis generally refers to black spots on the chin skin that become significantly red, as well as redness and hair loss at the base of the tail. It is mainly caused by an inappropriate food bowl for cats or an excessive secretion of male hormones in unneutered cats, which causes the tail to become oily and dirty, leading to the occurrence of folliculitis. It can be cleaned with alkaline cleaner and rinsed with clean water.

Clinical manifestations of folliculitis

Feline folliculitis, also known as black chin or horse tail, symptoms include darkening of the hair roots, easy breakage and shedding of hair, thinning of the hair at the affected area, darkening of the skin due to pigment deposition, and inflammation symptoms such as redness and swelling. Sometimes there may be moisture and a peculiar smell. It usually occurs on the chin, tail, or other parts, and sometimes on the nipples.

Treatment of folliculitis

If the skin has only small black spots and no redness, swelling, and itching, special treatment is not required. Daily cleaning can use anti-inflammatory shampoo or cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide. However, if the skin has already shown redness, swelling, or even ulceration due to inflammation, topical or oral antibiotic treatments may be necessary depending on the severity of the folliculitis.

Healing time of folliculitis

The healing time of feline folliculitis mainly depends on the severity of the condition. If it is only a local folliculitis, it may recover in 7-14 days. If it is a systemic folliculitis, it may take 1-2 months to heal. The hair growth cycle of cats is 28 days, and the recovery of skin diseases is a long process that requires patience and cooperation from pet owners.

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