Jessica Melman Bhatia, VMD
Case Study: GlycoBenz and Feline Acne
October 2015
A 10 year-old female spayed domestic short hair cat presented for weight loss and increased appetite. On examination, she had a palpable thyroid nodule, as well as comedones with mild erythema and partial alopecia on her ventral chin.
To further evaluate her chin, a skin scraping was performed and found negative for Demodex. A skin cytology showed cocci and no yeast. Blood work was also performed. The patient was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and feline acne.
Methimazole was dispensed to treat her hyperthyroidism. To treat the feline acne she was given a Convenia injection and GlycoBenz Shampoo to apply to the chin once daily for 10 days, and then twice weekly thereafter for maintenance.
Feline acne starts as comedones or blackheads on the chin and lower lip. Poor grooming is believed to play a role by allowing hair follicles to plug with keratin resulting in secondary inflammation and possibleinfection. Other theoretical causes include abnormal keratinization, sebum production or immune-barrier function. Some cats have a single occurrence that does not recur once treated, while others have a continual problem that requires life-long treatment.
At re-check of the patient’s thyroid levels 6 weeks later, her thyroid levels were within normal limits and her feline acne was resolved. The rest of her chemistry and CBC within normal limits as well. The owner elected for continuing radioactive iodine treatment for the hyperthyroidism.
GlycoBenz Shampoo
DermaZoo’s GlycoBenz Shampoo contains 1% Glycolic Acid and 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide and aids in the topical treatment of seborrhea oleosa (oily/scaly skin), pyoderma, pyotraumatic dermatitis, Demodex, Staphylococcal folliculitis, Malassezia and other conditions where a broad-spectrum shampoo with these active ingredients may be beneficial.
Benzoyl peroxide has antimicrobial, comedolytic/follicular flushing, keratolytic and antiseborrheic actions, and is therefore helpful to use topically in the treatment of feline acne. Benzoyl peroxide shampoos are generally used for oily and scaly skin (seborrhea oleosa), superficial and deep pyodermas, crusty pyodermas (such as seborrheic dermatitis/pyoderma), pyotraumatic dermatitis, furunculosis, and as adjunctive therapy for generalized demodicosis.
Glycolic Acid has antimicrobial properties; it is follicular flushing, and it exfoliates extra/dead skin cells allowing the benzoyl peroxide to get to the skin follicles to work more effectively. For this reason,GlycoBenz Shampoo is more effective than products containing only benzoyl peroxide.