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Health & Beauty
| Skin Care Issues in the Hairless Dog Many websites list Chinese Crested (the hairless variety) and other hairless breeds as being low maintenance. This statement may seem misleading to those battling skin problems. Unless one has faced the onslaught of Acne Vulgaris, it is hard to understand the anguish and guilt many owners feel. Therefore, sharing information is essential. It is true that caring for the average Crested is easy. Bathing, drying, combing, and lotion application takes minutes rather than the hour or more it can take with coated breeds. It is when the acne nemesis raises its ugly head that many owners cry out in frustration. To compound the problem, no one treatment is right for every dog. Genetic makeup and environment each play a role in outcome. Blackheads usually congregate on hips, hind legs, and sometimes, feet. Other places where blackheads can occur are creases in skin, especially at the base of the neck. These are logical places for blackheads to form, as these are the places most often in contact with material, which can clog pores, as in when the dog is lying down or debris becomes trapped in skin folds. Of course, the formation of blackheads and pimples may develop from lack of proper hygiene; however, for the Crested owner who diligently cares for his or her pet’s skin, to have these problems continue can be overwhelming, especially if the pet is a show dog and the owner is preparing for the ring. To understand the problems facing hairless dogs, we must first look at the function of hair. Fur or pelage is a unique feature of mammals. Follicles are pits in the skin. Hair grows from these pits. The root is the part of the hair that is buried under the skin, the shaft the part that we see. Hair follicles lie in close proximity to sebaceous glands. These glands secrete an oil substance, which lubricates the hair and conditions it. Have you ever wondered why your hair stands up when you are cold? Next to the follicle are tiny, involuntary arrector pili muscles, which contract and cause the hair to stand erect. These muscles also pull back on skin to cause goose bumps. The hair shaft is made from the protein keratin and has three distinct layers. Cuticular scales make up the outer layer. They are transparent and dead. Cortex is the next layer and may carry pigment. The center layer is the medulla. It can be colored and has air pockets. This arrangement of cuticular scales, cortex, and medulla is unique to individual species. The color of the hair is determined by a group of proteins called melanin. Eumelanin is the darkest, pheomelanin, and the lightest. These occur in alternating bands, called agouti. The color of each hair depends on the distribution of the hairs of differing banding pattern and the color and size of the bands. White occurs when there is a lack of Eumelanin and black when Eumelanin is dominant.1 The coat is also made up of guard hairs and undercoat. The guard hair overlays the undercoat and protects it. The undercoat can consist of wool, which continues to grow throughout the year, or fur that has a definite growing time. Also included in hair description is the vibrissae or whiskers which have bases supplied with nerves, which convey information to animals about their environment. Hair is shed periodically in what is called a molt. Hair serves several functions. It is used to insulate the animal either from cold or heat. It is also used as a signal mechanism, as when dogs raise the hair up on their backs. The pattern of the coat serves as camouflage. It protects the dog’s skin (one of the reasons hairless dogs have skin problems); and it helps in sensory input. Hairless dogs lack these adaptations. 2 The hairlessness that owners treasure in the Chinese Crested and other hairless breeds is undoubtedly the result a genetic mutation. In the wild, such specimens would never survive, but because humans have stepped in, valuing the uniqueness of these canines, they have flourished. In the Journal of Heredity in an article in Genetic Mapping of Canine Multiple System Degeneration and Ectodermal Dysplasia Loci describes a movement disorder in Chinese Crested dogs that is indistinguishable from canine multiple system degeneration, a fatal disease in Kerry Blue Terriers. The mutations causing this multiple system degeneration are allelic, that is one member of a pair or series of genes that occupy a specific position on a specific chromosome. (Interestingly, in humans, a mutation in this area causes Parkinson’s disease.) The phenotype (the expression of specific traits) in Chinese Crested (sparse coat and abnormal dentition) is associated with canine ectodermal dysplasia (CED) which is the abnormal development or growth of tissues and structures that develop from the ectoderm (the outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo, from which the epidermis, nervous tissue, and, in vertebrates, sense organs develop). Homozygous puppies (having the same alleles at one or more gene loci on homologous chromosome segments) are born with oro-cuccal (mouth cavity) malformations and die. Interestingly, wolves and other canines do not diversify into such varied forms probably because functional constraints purify these mutations out of the population. 3 It seems the plugged follicles in the skin of hairless dogs are histologically similar to the acne vulgaris found in humans. So just what is acne vulgaris and what can we do to help our “hairless” friends? According to Dr. Julie Harper, Vulgaris is characterized by non-inflammatory follicular papules (a small, solid, usually inflammatory elevation of the skin that does not contain pus) or comedones (a plug of keratin and sebum within a hair follicle that is blackened at the surface, also called blackhead), and by inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules in its more severe forms. Acne vulgaris affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous (fat producing) follicles. Open comedomes are blackheads, closed are white heads. Some factors relating to vulgaris are poor diet, poor hygiene, hormones, stress, and genetics. Follicular plugging occurs when cells are being shed from the inner lining of follicle. They stick together, rather than flowing to the surface with sebum. Causes may include increased cell division and or the cohesiveness of cells lining the follicle. The cells and the sebum form a plug and block the opening of the hair follicle. If cell/sebum protrudes from the follicular opening, it turns a dark color and becomes a blackhead. (The color is the result of changes in the melanin rather than dirt as many owners think.) Many owners will see an increase in acne around adolescence, this is because with hormone changes comes an increase in the production of sebum.4 Dividing your dogs acne into one of three categories and then assigning it a level is helpful in determining just what treatment may be best for your dog. Comedonal acne consists mainly of white/black heads and has few inflamed areas. These are treated best with keratolytic agents, which decrease the adhesiveness of follicular cells. Some agents used to treat this type of acne are salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and tretinoin (of course, all of these products are for humans and should be researched before applying them to your Hairless. There have, however, been clinical trials using tretinoin on Chinese Crested, which have produced good results). The second type of acne is inflammatory acne. Inflammatory acne includes the above, plus papules and pustules. It should be treated with topical ointments such as the ones listed above and antibiotics. Nodulocystic acne combines all of the above with nodules and cysts or abscesses. Topical ointments are not effective in this treatment. Antibiotic treatment is recommended for this type of acne, with further medical treatment necessary if the skin problems do not subside. When a single agent proves ineffectual in treating acne a combination therapy may be helpful. A combination of tretinoin plus benzoyl peroxide may be used to treat Comedonal acne. As with any treatment, there are dangers of acerbating the problem with long term usage of antibiotics and corticosteroid therapy, so please discuss these issues with your veterinarian. The aftereffects of vulgaris can range from skin discoloration to scaring. This results from an increase in melain granules that can lead to dark pigment, blotchiness and spots. 5 Canine adolescence can be one factor leading to Hairless skin problems. If this is the case, then one should see a marked improvement when this phase of development ends. Stress, seasons, yearly vaccinations, and even food allergies can contribute to the sudden onset acne. Fortunately, in most cases these problems clear up quickly once the irritant is removed. However, some specimens seem prone to this condition and it is an ongoing battle. Many Chinese Crested owners use medicated shampoos to treat this condition. Keratolux, Pyoben, Malaseb, as well as shampoos containing Benzoyl Peroxide may be effective in treating mild cases of acne. One may also want to use a mild scrub such as St. Ives Apricot Scrub or Mary Kay 3-in-1 cleanser. After bathing, apply a mild astringent such as Witchhazel. Never apply a lotion that contains lanolin, as some dogs are allergic to it. You may also want to use moisturizers such as Aveeno, Mary Kay hydrating body lotion. You should apply antiseptic creams at night for best results. Don’t forget sunscreen. Some owners apply vitamin E oil or Tea Tree oil, which has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. Discoloration of the skin may be a result of acne vulgaris; this comes about because of the darkening of the pigment. Products used on humans to alleviate age spots may be helpful but be aware that many of these products take off the top layer of skin and therefore leave the exposed cells more sensitive to sunlight. Vitamin supplements may prove beneficial as well. Vitamin B plays a pivotal role in producing healthy skin. Check with your veterinarian before giving any supplement and thoroughly research the product. Remember, you may have to try several product combinations until you find the one that best suits you and your pet. If your dog’s acne is due to the onslaught of adolescence, you are in luck. The problem will gradually get better. First you will notice a cessation of the inflammatory stage. Later blackheads will appear darker, rather than having an opaque patina. Never try to remove a blackhead with an opaque patina, it is not ready to come out and you can cause skin damage, which leads to scarring if you try to remove them. When the blackhead is clearly at the surface, it is easily rubbed away. Whiteheads are harder to deal with as they are below the skin’s surface, but a good regiment of bathing, freshening, and moisturizing should produce results. In conclusion, skin is an organ, in fact, the largest organ in the body. Many things affect it, from genetics to environment to diet. Good hygiene is essential for healthy skin, but poor hygiene in not the primary factor, which produces acne vulgaris. Hormones, stress, allergies, and even vaccination reaction can bring on outbreaks. Healthy, beautiful Hairless skin does not happen overnight. It takes patience and perseverance to produce healthy skin. Remember the mantra for healthy skin, cleanse, freshen, and moisturizer and you are well on your way to a flawless skin. Healthy Skin is also a product of diet. We will explore the dog food industry, nutrition, vitamin supplements, and the new (old) alternatives to conventional diets in a future issue. Debra Ball |
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