Bulldogs tend to have messy face wrinkles. The older they get, the messier the wrinkles. How often you clean these wrinkles depends on the dog. Some do very well if you clean the wrinkles a couple of times a week. Some need it on a daily basis. When you clean the wrinkles, wash his nose and apply a good rub of Vaseline to keep it soft. It's better to clean more often than you think you need to than not often enough. You can clean the wrinkles with a soft, damp cloth and then dry. Or you can wash them using the shampoo you use to bathe the dog. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry thoroughly. One of the best ways is to wipe the wrinkles clean with Baby Wipes with lanolin and aloe. Whatever method you use, be sure to get the deep nose wrinkle clean. You may need to put a soothing ointment in the deep nose wrinkle. If it is irritated Panalog will help to heal. Diaparene Ointment will soothe and dry the wrinkle. This contains zinc oxide, so before you apply it, rub Vaseline into the dog's nose. You will almost ce A sizable number of Bulldogs have "tear stains" of varying degrees of color. If the stain is bad, in addition to cleaning you may want to try to remove the stain. There are many treatments, you may have to try several before you find one that works for you. Some of the commercial products used are Showes "Pretty Eyes" Stain remover, Bio-Groom cream (to prevent re-staining) and Diamond Eye. You can make a paste of I Tbs. Hydrogen Peroxide and enough corn starch to make a thin paste (some Bulldoggers add I Tbs. Milk of Magnesia to the hydrogen peroxide and mix the cornstarch into that mixture). Apply to the stain, let dry, brush off excess. Apply on a daily basis until the stain in gone, then weekly to keep stain from returning. Another method is to rub the stain with a cotton ball soaked in Boric Acid. Daily until the stain is gone, then weekly. Or use NM Boric Acid ointment (10%) which can be purchased at Payless or most any drug store. Another remedy is rubbing a dab of Desitin into the stain to help dry it.

Meatball's advice:  start wiping the wrinkles as a puppy with baby or puppy wipes.  After a bath dry out the wrinkles really good and put Vaseline in them and one the nose.  If you notice redness dab some Animax onitment or Panalog Cream in the fold. 

What is fold dermatitis?
Dermatitis means inflammation of the skin. Where there are excessive skin folds or wrinkles, fold dermatitis occurs due to rubbing of skin and trapping of moisture in the folds. Pyoderma (bacterial skin infection) commonly develops, almost always caused by Staphylococcus intermedius (which does not cause problems in people).
Common forms are tail, lip, and facial fold dermatitis and associated pyoderma, in breeds where there is skin folding in these areas.

How is fold dermatitis inherited?
Fold dermatitis is directly related to skin folding or wrinkling in a particular breed. The wrinkling trait is considered to be autosomal dominant.
What breeds are affected by fold dermatitis?
The following breeds are predisposed to fold dermatitis and skin-fold pyoderma: bloodhound, Boston terrier (tail fold), Chinese Shar-pei, cocker and springer spaniel (lip fold), English bulldog (facial fold), Neapolitan mastiff, Pekingese (facial fold), pug (facial and tail fold).

For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed.

What does fold dermatitis mean to your dog & you?
The condition can cause your dog mild to significant discomfort and itching (depending on whether the area becomes infected). Infection is likely to recur.
How is fold dermatitis diagnosed?
The condition is readily diagnosed based on reddened, moist areas in folds of skin.

How is fold dermatitis treated?
This condition can generally be managed satisfactorily. Your veterinarian will recommend a cleansing shampoo for you to use regularly to combat infection which, when it does occur, will require antibiotic  treatment.
If your dog develops a chronic or frequently-recurring fold pyoderma, despite treatment, your veterinarian will likely discuss with you the option of surgically removing the fold which should clear up the problem permanently.
For the veterinarian: Choose cleansers with good residual action but with minimal drying or irritating actions (eg. 0.5% chlorhexidine or 2% benzoyl peroxide).
Breeding advice

Fold dermatitis with associated pyoderma is one of the conditions that results from selection by breeders and a demand from the public for particular features, in this case skin wrinkling, heavy facial folds, or a "corkscrew" tail. These disorders are directly related to the conformation or standards for the breed. Although these conditions have in many cases become so common that they are accepted as normal for the breed, they can still cause serious physical problems and discomfort for the dog.

This condition can be minimized by choosing dogs for breeding with few or no wrinkles, rather than those with pronounced folds or wrinkling. Breed clubs can encourage this, while at the same time educating potential owners on the reasons via breed publications/websites.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DISORDER, PLEASE SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN.

information found on thebca.org