Disclaimer: IANAV

From what I read, feline acne is almost always on the chin because of
some glands nearby and is like bad human acne - the bumps get big and
sometimes infected and are uncomfortable.

Without more info, it's hard to say what it is. Could be anything from
flea bites to mites to ringworm to allergies or just dry skin.
Is there any possibility it is from mites, fleas, or ringworm?
If it really is just dry skin, some oil in the food or water once or
twice a week can help. Anything else pretty much needs a vet visit, if
only to figure out the cause.
I don't think human skin lotion would help, but there is some stuff at
the pet store specifically for cats, both topical and as oil/food
supplements. The cat might lick the human lotion off, and there's all
kinds of chemicals in there you don't really want them ingesting.

Honestly, though, it kinda sounds like healing (scabbing) insect bites
(fleas or skeeters) to me, but without really seeing the cat, it's hard
to say.

I found another site that says this might be caused by plastic bowls,
but it wasn't a vet site, so take it with a grain of salt.  ;)
If he shoves his head into the bowl, I suppose it could happen.

It wouldn't hurt to use stainless steel instead of plastic, anyway. Less
germy. I use stainless steel because it is so much easier to get clean
and I don't have to worry that it's dishwasher safe.

When I first adopted one of mine, he had a "rash" that looked a
little bit like blackheads, above the eyes and below the ears, and
it turned out to flea eggs.  Have you checked his belly for fleas?
(because they're usually easier to see there in the thinner fur)

As to other recommendations of benzoyl peroxide for feline acne,
there's a BIG difference between applying that to the chin, and
applying that near the eyes.  Do NOT use benzoyl peroxide near
his eyes.   (Meanwhile benzoyl peroxide is much more irritating than
ordinary medical hydrogen peroxide.  The only reason it's used in acne
ointments is that hydrogen peroxide isn't stable in ointments.  But
it shouldn't be used near the eyes, either.)

The location affected doesn't sound like feline acne, to me, because
that typically occurs on the chin (food oils bind to plastic dishes
like grease on Tupperware), and is not something you can just pick
off the cat.

If it does turn out to be fleas, get him some Advantage from a vet.
It really works, quickly, and doesn't harm the cat.  You don't
even have to bring the cat in, just ask at the front counter for
some Advantage.

Do not use flea collars and flea powders on him, all they seem to do
is make the cat ill, and they do a poor job of killing fleas.  Also,
supermarket flea drops by Hartz (even though it looks like imitation
Advantage) has harmed and killed cats, because it contains a chemical
pesticide that has long been banned for lawns and other uses because
of its toxicity.

Being near the eyes and forehead, I would not think it is acne. I'd suspect
bug bites of somekind.

Karen

That sounds suspiciously like flea dermatitis or ear mites.  Do
you give him a regular flea treatment?  If not, I'd recommend a
dipping/bath, and start him on a regular flea treatment,
especially if he has access to the outdoors. -- M9