Seborrhea (Dry Skin) in Cats

Overview of Feline Seborrhea (Dry Skin)

Seborrhea, commonly referred to as scaly skin or “dandruff”, is common in cats that is more a symptom than a disease. Seborrhea can be dry (seborrhea secca) or oily (seborrhea oleosa), and different shampoos are used according to the type of seborrhea.

Below is an overview on Seborrhea in Cats followed by in-depth information about the diagnosis and treatment options for this condition.

In most cases, the scales are secondary to another skin disease. In these cases, the scaling was not usually evident at a young age and occurred as a consequence of itching or other skin problems. Identification of the underlying cause is important to control the excessive scaling.

In some cases as in cocker spaniels, the scaling is primary and animals are born with a defect of keratinization. In these cases, the problem is evident at a young age, usually less than one year of age, and the ears are frequently affected as much as the rest of the body. Topical and systemic therapy (retinoids) may be used to normalize the turnover of the epithelial cells.

Diagnosis of Seborrhea (Dry Skin) in Cats

The identification of the underlying disease responsible for seborrhea is of crucial importance. In order to do this, it is important for your veterinarian to:

Treatment of Seborrhea (Dry Skin) in Cats

An excessive amount of oil on the skin facilitates the growth of bacteria and yeast. Most animals with seborrhea have concurrent skin infections (bacteria and yeast) and will require treatment. Your cat may need to take antibiotics or antifungal medications for several weeks to eliminate the infection.

Topical therapy is also important to remove the excessive amount of scales. Various shampoos and conditioner may be necessary.

Home Care

Clipping is usually necessary in animals with long and thick hair coats. This facilitates bathing and decreases the amount of shampoo required.

Bathing is necessary at least once a week. Some cats may need a bath with a medicated shampoo twice or three times a week. Different shampoos and conditioners are used according to the infection present and the type of seborrhea. Some are good for dry skin (Allergroom®), while others are good for greasy skin (LyTar®). Some shampoos are antibacterial (OxyDex®), while others are antifungal (Selsun Blue® animals).

A contact time of 10 to 15 minutes is crucial for the success of shampoo therapy. Leave-on conditioners may be used after the shampoo to have a prolonged effect. Products available on the market are antibacterial (Resi-Chlor®), anti-itchy (Resi-Cort®) and antifungal (Resi-zole®).

In-depth Information on Feline Seborrhea (Dry Skin)

Most cases of seborrhea are secondary to another skin disease. To differentiate between primary and secondary seborrhea, it is important to follow a well-organized plan to rule out other diseases. An accurate diagnosis is important for appropriate therapy and prognosis.

Secondary seborrhea is by far more common than primary seborrhea and the list of differentials is very extensive since almost any disease in veterinary dermatology may have scaling and flaking as a clinical sign. Scaling secondary to another disease may be divided into two big groups: pruritic and non-pruritic.

Primary diseases of keratinization are usually manifested by excess of scale formation. They are usually genetic diseases and affected patients have a family history. Since these are hereditary conditions, the disease is usually evident at a young age, usually less than two years.

Diagnosis In-depth

Differentiation between primary and secondary seborrhea is an important step in the approach of a case of seborrhea. This comes from the history, the distribution of the lesions and exclusion of concurrent disease.

Treatment In-depth

Treatment of seborrhea includes treatment of secondary skin infections and of the underlying disease of keratinization. Glucocorticoids should not be used during the time in which the diagnostic evaluation is done as they may affect the ability to control the pyoderma and they interfere with the evaluation of pruritus.

Topical Therapy for Feline Seborrhea

Topical therapy rarely works when used alone. However, it is a very effective adjunct therapy to get faster resolution of a skin problem. In general, bathing should be continued over at least a 10 to 15 minute period for proper hydration of the skin and to allow the active ingredients to work.

Humectants are agents that work by being incorporated in the stratum corneum and by attracting the water that is in the lower layers of the epidermis. These agents include urea, sodium lactate, lactic acid and propylene glycol and work even if applied in between baths. Lactic acid has hygroscopic activity at low concentration and keratolytic activity at higher concentrations. It has been incorporated into liposomes to ensure a slow release over time and thus a longer residual activity (Microperl Humectant Spray®).

Emollients are agents that soften the skin because they decrease transepidermal water loss. They are usually oils and work if applied after a bath. They fill the spaces between dry flakes with droplets of oil.

Systemic Therapy for Feline Seborrhea

Most cases require systemic treatment for secondary skin infections. Antibiotics and antifungal therapy are usually used for three to four weeks.

Systemic therapy for primary diseases of keratinization includes the use of retinoids and Vitamin A derivatives. Retinoids have been tried for the management of this disorder (retinol, isotretinoin, etretinate).

These compounds have the ability to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial tissues. Isotretinoin seems to work better in cases where the disease is the hair follicle and sebaceous glands (Schnauzer comedo syndrome and sebaceous adenitis), while etretinate works better in hyper proliferative epidermal disorders (idiopathic seborrhea of cocker spaniels, English springer spaniels, Irish setters).