Gelding with pink/raw skin has some issues - I need suggestions

Purchased a black and white Overo Paint gelding for my daughter. Toby has one BIG issue that I have been working with since we brought him home a few weeks ago. His history is this: This whilte faced horse has almost no hair left around eyes, cheeks & mouth from rubbing himself raw -( likely from some allergy in a pasture or flies + eye infection- per vet) He also has one large area on his neck and shoulder that is also missing hair & raw. The owner moved & he was left with friends in a pasture for weeks with little or no shade. Because of these circumstances he got burned quite bad on face, neck & shoulder. He was peeling and scabbed over. He looked miserable and crusty, but the poor guy acted just fine. In the few weeks since he has been with us, some areas have shown huge improvements, while others are still quite raw. I have stalled him from 9am to 6pm (which he doesn't care for), placed him on special feed & supplements high in omega, amino's and fats to help with skin and coat. He gets a bath with iodine shampoo at least 3-4 times a wk. Applied baby sunscreen 100 to face and pink areas that are NOT raw everyday. I have cleaned the raw areas twice daily, applied neosporin and swat. I have also tried zinc diaper cream on these areas, but I am at a loss as to why these areas are still so raw... or maybe I am just impatient - but was expecting them to look better. New to this forum and to pink skinned horses. Can post pics tomorrow if needed. Any suggestions appreciated.

I wouldn't be using an iodine shampoo on him. You're drying out the skin and there isn't anything you're trying to control with it.

Depending upon the severity of the burn/peeling, I'd give him the rest of the summer to get over it. If you think it's allergy related in any way, go ahead and test him now. That way you'll know how to manage him next spring/summer. Always have 2 long flymasks around for him and they only come off at dark.

Any alfalfa or clover in his diet? Those can make him more sensitive to sunlight and more susceptable to bad burns.

Pretty much just agree with LHP.

I have a white sabino paint. So he is pink all over. Buy waterproof/sweatproof sunblock it will be your best friend. In fact a little less bathing with a nice dirt layer would do him some good even. Do not use any more iodine shampoo he doesn't have an infection or fungus. The only time i've used iodine shampoo is for rain rot. If you horse burns bad around his eyes and face try a fly mask it will help. In the morning before the sun gets hot apply sunscreen to face and shoulders everyday. The missing hair is from the scabbing of the sunburn it will grow back. By the time summer's done he shouldn't be burning so much anymore. He may not be so raw what you might be seeing is his pink skin with some inflamation is all. Just give him a little neosporin on his scabs he will heal up. Be patient it will go away.

Yup, what they said. I use waterproof Avon skin so soft bugguard plus on my girls white face. There is a pink lotion that I forget the name of that will help him heal now. I'd bathe in chlorhexiderm shampoo and apply corona around his eyes and on the bad crust, mainly bc corona stays put well.
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Thanks for your reply. Was using iodine shampoo on vets recommendation - it does seem rather irritating. Will try the other and see what happens - maybe then the sunscreen won't be so irritating. Do not have alfalfa or clover in his diet..although there may be some in the pasture somewhere - its LARGE. Always has a fly mask on if he is out during the day - but with the heat and sun has been kept in the barn until dusk - and yes always sunscreen. Thanks everyone !!

Thanks cakemom. If you think of the pink lotion name - please let me know. I'd like to try it. Will also try this shampoo over the iodine.

had not heard of corona ? Will look it up. Thanks.

Pics of Toby's raw areas and around his eyes. These have improved from what they were - Pictures by qtrpalomino - Photobucket

I forgot about corona that stuff works!