Hi, I just found this site. I am desparate for answers for my cat with Idiopathic Facial Dermatitis otherwise known as Dirty Face Syndrome. I know it is rare but there must be other people out there with this problem. I was trying to search for this topic but came up with nothing. I have been cleaning my cats face for four years every other day with warm water, baby shampoo, an antibacterial salicylic acid shampoo (not every time), gauze pads and then scrape the debris off with a flea comb. We have tried many different foods and litter. I now use Wheatscoop and The World's Best Cat Litter. The black debris is now spreading up past his ears and around the side of his face. It has always been very far under his chin. It has gotten to the point where I have to clean it every day and it is getting harder to get off. It just sticks to his face and he is red and raw when I am finished. It is starting to really bother him and he is starting to scratch at it. It takes me over an hour to remove it and he is still left with some patches. It is severe. I have been to two veterinary dermatologists and three general vets who have each tried different anitbiotics, viral meds, etc. I know there is no known cause and no cure but I would appreciate it if anyone has any helpful hints on easing the cleaning process for my cat, and for me.

I'm afraid I dont have any input to offer you on this troubling issue you are having with your kitty.
I've acutally never heard of this.. but it certainly sounds very distressing for both you and your dear kitty.
Just wanted to welcome you to the site and wish you the best of luck with this. Other members should be along to offer you some help and suggestions.

Thanks so much for the welcome. I hope someone out there can offer some advice. I hadn't heard of it either until I got Conrad. I've had two other Persians and two Himalayans (one of each at the present time) who never showed signs of this. It isn't studied very much because it is rare.
Kathy

Dirty face syndrome is a severe form of feline acne that spreads to the rest of the face, especially in 'folds' on a Persian's face. If anyone is squeemish, don't google it -- the photos are horrible!

My personal non-medical opinion is that it has to do with a cat's immune system and can be greatly controlled by food. I have a cat that had this to the point of pustules in his whisker area and an almost black chin in white fur area. He had been on cheap canned food when I got him, but after I changed his diet and added a number of supplements for the immune system, all the black stuff eventually cleared up. It did take 2+ months and his fur is still not good in that area, but no more pustules or black stuff.

I used a tea of calendula and aloe juice to clean and sooth the areas. Most of the black stuff I gently scrapped off with my fingernails. I didn't try to get all of it, since it was too firmly attached in areas. Then I washed the areas with the tea.

Good luck and hang in there!

Thank you. I will try the tea and the aloe juice. What type of food do you give him?
We have tried so many different kinds. They mainly get the Royal Canin Persian but we've also tried Innova, Prairie, Flint River Ranch, and some others I can't remember, which are supposedly better brands. They get a snack of wet food two times a day of which we've tried Wellness, Purina ProPlan, Science Diet, etc. We had thought it was related to diet, even though the vets don't agree, but we have yet to come up with a food that works. Also, what type of supplements do you give him.
Thanks again.
Kathy

General Disclaimer: I'm not a vet. I have my opinions based on my personal observations, but no academic training.

In general, I think the problem with these cats is a slightly compromised immune system which allows the bacteria/fungus/virus to thrive in the skin. So, this means we need to improve the immune system by improving the diet. In my case, I feed raw food. I know a lot of people have problems with raw meat (including most vets), but I don't and neither do my cats. If you want to try it, I'll gladly help you.

Let's assume that you prefer the commercial food. Look for one that uses human-grade food, no by-products, and little or no grains, especially corn. Wellness, Innova, Halo, Mother Hubbard are okay, but not ideal. Someone mentioned Nature's Variety Grain Free food and it does look good -- no grains, mostly meat, Omega's. (I may actually buy some for emergencies, as in, when I'm too tired to make food!) You want to get the purest food for him. Also, if it doesn't upset his stomach, variety is good just so if one brand is slightly lacking in one thing, another brand might not be.

As for supplements, when Clancy had it, he got echinacea (in 3-week cycles), goldenseal, a Chinese herbal thingy called Compound A from Seven Forests, extra salmon oil (or flaxseed oil), and mixed raw glandulars. He also got one week on, and one week off of milk thistle. The whole rational was to build up the immune system and flush out the problem. He was on this for about 4 months, until I was 100% sure he was over it. He's now on just extra raw glandulars.

He did have one big flair up in the last year and that was when I fed him cheap kitty treats. He only got 2-3 a night, but in about a week the black gunk and pustules began to appear. He went back to dried salmon or chicken as treats, and he's been fine since.

Hope this helps.

Linda

We were thinking about going the raw meat route but were leery. I think we will have to seriously consider it now. We should at least try it out, for his sake. ( and mine)
Thanks for all your advice.
Will keep you posted.
Kathy

Hi I am sorry you are having such problems. Just a couple of questions and thoughts. It seems to have gotten worse it sounds like. Has it happened since you changed to the litter you are using? Wheatscoop is made from wheat, and I can't remember the ingrediants on the other, but it stuck to my cats so they ingested it. If your kitty is sensitive to grains this could be an issue. I go the old fashioned way just plain old Johnny Cat ,clay with no perfumes.

The Royal Canin could also be a culprit. It has a lot of grain, espec. corn. It also has alot of other stuff that can casue issues. I am feeding it but I am trying so hard to get rid of it, just ordered some Orijen.

Some of the advice you have been offered sounds good but a question would be does she have a weak immune system or an overactive one, it makes a difference. I would try to find a holistic Vet ( a good one) by you if possible and let them help you.

Some of the stuff you are using on her face may also be making it worse, she may be reacting to it. Sparky had a bout of it on her lips and chin and I read the ingrediants on the stuff the vet wanted me to use and said no. I cleaned her with a little diluted peroxide, but it was just her chin. It finally cleared up.

Good luck, something is causing her body to do this, I hope you get some help. If you go with Natures's Variety be careful with the raw chicken, they just had a recall. You might want to check out Primal food or Felinne Instincts if you are not comfortable with doing it yourself, and go very slowly.

Thanks so much. I am open to any suggestions. I was using the clay litter in the beginning when he had the condition which is why I switched to the more natural litter. I was hoping that might help but it had no affect either way.
This weekend I stopped using the Royal Canin and started using just the Prairie which is a Nature's Variety food. We actually had it but we were mixing it with the Royal Canin. We have three cats and they all like different things so it is hard to please everyone. My husband had bought organic chicken for Conrad but he wouldn't eat it. He still buys it because the Himalayan loves it now. I will look into the Orijen.
Most of the time I just use warm water and gauze on his face because I don't like the ingredients in the shampoos either. I only use the shampoo once in a while on areas that are really hard to get off and to give him a break from the friction of the gauze on his face. It loosens the debris and makes it much easier to get off but I don't like using it too often. I also don't use it over his lips or cheek area because I don' want him to lick it. It is so hard to get into the folds on his face.
We did try a holistic vet a few years ago for another cat with a thyroid condition but we were not too happy when she charged $30 to my credit card for calling her on the phone to ask a question about something she had prescribed. I don't know if there is another one in the area but I will check.
Again, thank you for your suggestions. This site has been wonderful. I have been trying for over two years to find suggestions on the internet but came up short every time. At least I have some suggestions to work with now from everyone who has responded.
Kathy

Something else that can cause feline acne is using plastic dishes. You could try switching the water and food dishes to glass or stainless steel.