Two pinkish spots on bottom of head, rough dull spot on top of head

[runeasgar]

So, I'm to understand the dull spot on top of the head could just be a bad shed, and that would make sense - he's always been a good shedder (generally one piece), but that last one was awful.

That said, the two pink spots worry me. Here's a pic:
(or if that doesn't work, here's the URL: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0zjnljbdg6...%2028%20PM.jpg)

I'm gonna come clean, and say that after a bit of reading yesterday I did the following:
1. Completely changed out all of his bedding.
2. Dabbed a tiny bit of neosporin on the spots on his chin.
3. Got him out later that evening to make sure he was ok.

So, he didn't seem ok. He seemed lethargic, I caught him with his neck upside down and extended a couple of times (which really made me worry), but when I actually started flipping him around and stuff, he kept his head upright the entire time. He was puffing at me a lot (most often after giving my neck a good squeeze, or whenever he'd accidentally flinging himself around, like when his "tail latch" comes loose).

So, more information: he's probably hasn't eaten in 6 weeks (had a separate thread on that). I've had him since he was a baby, for about 1.5y now, male, 36oz, 3', natural coloring. Has always been a good eater and good shedder in the past, so the last 6 weeks have been very atypical. He's still plenty strong tho, as is evidenced by that fact I felt like my eyeballs were gonna pop out of my head a second ago..

Anyway, the picture is the main thing. What's going on? Neosporin bad/good idea?

[Navaro]

Is he kept in a tub/ rack setup? I've seen this when they try to shove their head up into the gap that's created at the top?

Looks like he's been nosing his head trying to get where he shouldn't be, and its tearing the scales off.

Neosporin is ok. Just make sure you don't use it to excess and that is doesn't contain any anesthetic like Lidocaine.

I'm usually pretty weary too about using it on their heads. They have a habit of rubbing it into their eyes.

[runeasgar]

He is in an animal plastics enclosure, and he does that crap ALL THE TIME with the two panes of glass.. so that makes a lot of sense when you mention it.

Which leads me to my 2nd question - will neosporin help? Or do I need to find some way to prevent him from sticking his head in the gaps (clueless atm)?

[Navaro]

Neosporin will help fight off an initial infection. Just make sure as I said above it doesn't contain Lidocaine, or an anesthetic.

really the best thing you can do is make sure the area stays clean. Switch to paper towels if he's currently on substrate wouldn't hurt either. Looks pretty clean though, like you caught sight of it early which is great.

[runeasgar]

Thanks for the advice! It is normal neosporin - I wish I could say that I checked that before putting it on him yesterday, but I didn't check that until after. I really ought to pay more attention -_-"

I'll dab a bit on him each day and see if it starts to get better.

In the meantime I'll see if I can think of a way to prevent him from hurting himself.. he loves shoving his head in those gaps.

[CORBIN911]

Thanks for the advice! It is normal neosporin - I wish I could say that I checked that before putting it on him yesterday, but I didn't check that until after. I really ought to pay more attention -_-"

I'll dab a bit on him each day and see if it starts to get better.

In the meantime I'll see if I can think of a way to prevent him from hurting himself.. he loves shoving his head in those gaps.

Use the Cream one, not the oil based one!

[Archimedes]

Yep, always use water-based ointments, WITHOUT pain relief ingredients. Oil-based will cause the scales to slough off and leave unprotected skin, and pain relief is actually toxic to most animals.