Bathing is another important thing to do.
Unlike most dogs who can be bathed once a month or less,
Cresteds generally do best with a weekly bath.
Some dogs have worse skin than others, and may even need it twice-weekly
to avoid acne breakouts. Think of the Crested's skin like your own face;
it's maintenance is often similar.
A daily rubdown with a warm, damp towel, olive oil + sugar scrubs (for blackheads),
and using OIL FREE skin lotion to prevent drying are all good ways to maintain skin health.
Some Cresteds are allergic to Lanolin, so avoid products
that have that ingredient, and clothes made of wool.
Crestie puppies often go thru a 'teenage acne' stage as well once they hit puberty, that generally clears
up with time.
Just like human skin, Cresteds can get pimples if their skin gets dirty.
You can buy special medicated shampoos (like Keratolux and Sebolux)
to prevent and treat acne breakouts, as well as leave-on creams like Pyoben Gel.
Depending on how deep under the skin the blackheads are it
can take days or even months of regular treatments to remove them all.
Prevention is the best way to go -- it's best not to wait until it gets
that bad!
Some dogs, like people, have allergies to certain foods.
With dogs, food allergies are often expressed through their skin --
so you can see how even a little allergy can make your hairless pup
look and feel terrible! Veterinarians can do allergy tests to see what
is causing a specific reaction. Symptoms of allergies can also include
obsessive chewing/licking the skin or feet.
Why do some dogs have food allergies? Well, genetics has a part in it.
Many dogs are allergic to beef, corn, wheat, or dairy products in general,
so it is not totally strange for a dog to have some food allergies.
It is believed by some that over-vaccination of some dogs can incite allergies as well.
Be sure to ask your vet about the potential side effects of any vaccines they offer you.
Allergies in dogs can often be controlled though special diets. Visit the Dog Food Project to compare dog food ingredients and see how well your own brand matches up to healthy standards. Poor quality food will influence the health of the skin -- just like fatty/greasy foods can ruin our own complexions.