One of my cats has developed a strange (to me) skin symptom. I would be appreciative of any thoughts regarding what it might be.

There is a thickened, hardened eruption, not a genuine swelling but more raised evenly across the surface of the skin on the entire area on the right side of his face where the whiskers are. This area is pitch black. (He is orange and white with pink skin. His whisker area is white.) It is growing larger in area, slowly. Appeared about 5-7 days ago and is now spreading to his cheek area under the eye. The hair/whiskers are unaffected/intact. It seems painless. Looks somewhat like the black crusty spots cats will sometimes get under their chins (like little acne spots) at times but is much larger, not crusty and can't be combed or loosened. The black skin area has no mottling of color, is solid *coal* black. It is dry to the touch, not exuding anything. It is very obvious and visible. Looks like a thick, black scab under the hair and whiskers.

He isn't accumulating food, discharging, suppurating or salivating on the area to cause this.

He has great sensitivity to touch on the cheeks and below chin. Will push those areas plus between eyes and crown of head against a hard object for the pressure, which will cause his head to tremble rapidly and very pronounced, side to side. This pressure seeking/sensitivity was present for weeks before the skin eruption/blackening.

I don't know what this type of skin condition might be called or what is causing it. He has been getting homeopathic Aloe and Carc. Can't find any "black skin eruption" in either remedy other than Allen - LIPS: UPPER: PUSTULE: BLACK POINT HAD BEEN, WHERE. {0> 1> 0} which isn't very close. Most references to black skin/spots seem more what I would think to be bruised "black and blue" type rubrics.

Any one have an idea what this might be causing this or what it is?

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