What is a Hot Spot?
Pyotraumatic dermatitis or hot spots are moist, erythematous and sometimes bloody when they are fresh, and dry and scabby when they are resolving. They can cover large expanses of skin, can appear as solitary lesions or in multiple locations, but are generally well defined. They are caused by self-mutilation that may be a result of an allergy or an irritation, such as fleas. The basic hot spot treatments are to keep the patient from further irritating the area, promote drying of the moist skin and to alleviate the pruritus. Hot spots below the ear or on the lateral face may be a deeper skin infection and often require more extensive treatment. Deeper skin infection treatment might include oral corticosteroids and/or oral antibiotics in addition to topical antiseptics and anti-inflammatories.
DermaZoo’s Hot Spot Treatment Protocol
Clip the hair from the lesion(s) so that there is an area of unaffected skin surrounding the lesion(s). Then apply GlycoBenz Shampoo to the lesion(s), allowing the medicated shampoo to sit for 10 minutes prior to rinsing. Cleanse the lesion(s) daily with GlycoBenz Shampoo until resolved. Oral corticosteroids and/or topical steroids are often needed as well. Systemic and/or topical antibiotics may also be needed depending on the severity of the lesion(s). An e-collar may be needed as well.
Why use DermaZoo’s GlycoBenz Shampoo?
Benzoyl peroxide has antibacterial and drying effects, and is therefore helpful to use topically in the treatment of pyotraumatic dermatitis. 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. Benzoyl peroxide has antimicrobial, comedolytic/follicular flushing, keratolytic and antiseborrheic actions.
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 Benzoyl Peroxide and Glycolic Acid may be beneficial. See the DermaZoo website for more information.
DermaZoo’s Hot Spot Treatment Testimonial
“Dear DermaZoo, I had great success with your tip for hot spot management on my Golden Retriever. Thank you so much for the advice. I look forward to passing it along as yet another thing DermaZoo products can help our patients with!
Thank you again,
Megan L. Sullivan, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Class 2017”