Why pH Matters

Understanding the Chemistry of Healthy Skin and Coat

Category: Skin Science

Suitable For: Professional Groomers • Veterinary Professionals • Breeders • Exhibitors • Pet Owners

"Every bath changes the skin's immediate environment. Professional grooming aims to work with normal skin physiology, not against it."

Quick Summary

The term pH describes how acidic or alkaline a substance is. On the skin, pH influences enzyme activity, microbial balance, barrier function and hair fibre behaviour. Although canine skin is generally less acidic than human skin, its pH is not a fixed number. It varies between individuals and is influenced by factors such as breed, body site, age, environment and recent bathing. Understanding these natural variations helps groomers make informed product choices while avoiding oversimplified "one pH fits all" thinking.

Key Takeaways

• pH measures acidity or alkalinity.

• Canine skin pH varies naturally between individuals.

• Healthy skin continually works to maintain homeostasis.

• Grooming technique is often as important as product selection.

• Appropriate conditioning is an important part of restoring the cosmetic finish after cleansing.

Few topics generate more discussion in professional grooming than pH, you'll often hear statements such as: "Dogs have alkaline skin." "Always use a pH-balanced shampoo." "Human shampoo should never be used because of pH."

While these statements contain elements of truth, they often oversimplify a much more complex biological system, skin is not chemically static.

It is a living organ that continually adjusts its surface environment in response to normal physiology and external influences, understanding pH is therefore less about memorising a number and more about understanding how healthy skin maintains its natural balance.

What Is pH?

The term pH stands for potential of hydrogen.

It is a logarithmic scale used to describe the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

• pH 7 is considered neutral.

• Values below 7 are increasingly acidic.

• Values above 7 are increasingly alkaline.

Small numerical changes represent substantial chemical differences because the scale is logarithmic rather than linear.

For groomers, pH becomes important because the skin, hair and grooming products all interact within this chemical environment.

Although canine skin is often described as being "more alkaline" than human skin, published studies demonstrate considerable variation between dogs.

Variables that influence skin pH include:

• Breed

• Body location

• Age

• Sebum production

• Skin hydration

• Environmental conditions

• Recent bathing

• Individual biological variation

We highlight that measurements differ between breeds and can change with health status, diet, reproductive status, coat type and grooming history, reinforcing that pH should be viewed as dynamic rather than fixed.

Skin Seeks Balance

One of the most important concepts in physiology is homeostasis. Homeostasis describes the body's ability to regulate its internal environment despite continual external change.

The skin is constantly working towards this balance. Following bathing, environmental exposure or changes in humidity, the skin gradually re-establishes its normal surface environment through ongoing biological processes.

Rather than viewing pH as something that must be permanently "corrected", it is more accurate to understand that healthy skin is continually regulating itself. 

The outer epidermis contains enzymes responsible for maintaining the skin barrier and normal desquamation. These enzymes function most effectively within a relatively narrow pH range. Significant disruption of this environment can temporarily influence barrier function until normal physiology is restored.

For this reason, maintaining normal skin physiology is generally preferable to making large chemical changes without a specific clinical reason.

pH and the Hair Fibre

Although pH discussions often focus on the skin, the hair fibre also responds to changes in its surrounding environment.

The cuticle, the hair's protective outer layer, may behave differently depending on the products applied during grooming.

Conditioning systems are typically formulated to improve the cosmetic feel of the hair by smoothing the cuticle surface, improving combability and reducing friction between hair fibres.

This contributes to:

• Improved shine.

• Reduced static.

• Easier combing.

• Improved manageability.

These are cosmetic effects rather than permanent structural changes.

Hair and skin do not necessarily have identical pH requirements.

Professional grooming products are formulated with both tissues in mind, recognising that the skin is living while the visible hair shaft is not.

Technique Matters as Much as Chemistry

It is easy to focus exclusively on the formulation of a product. However, grooming technique often has an equally important influence on the final result.

Factors including:

• Correct dilution.

• Appropriate contact time.

• Thorough rinsing.

• Suitable conditioning.

all influence how the skin and coat respond following bathing.

Improper dilution, excessive contact time, inadequate rinsing and the use of harsh degreasers as common factors that may contribute to unnecessary skin irritation, practical guidance that aligns well with good grooming practice.

Why Conditioning Follows Cleansing

Following cleansing, professional conditioning is an important step in preparing the coat for drying and styling.

Conditioners contribute to:

• Improved combability.

• Reduced friction between hair fibres.

• Cosmetic smoothing of the cuticle.

• Improved manageability.

Conditioning products help acidify the coat surface after cleansing and complement the overall bathing process, while emphasising that grooming products should be appropriately diluted and thoroughly rinsed.

How Iv San Bernard Applies This Science

Iv San Bernard routines are designed around the principle that skin and coat characteristics vary between individual animals.

Rather than relying on a single universal formulation, professional routines combine cleansers and conditioners according to:

• Skin characteristics.

• Coat type.

• Grooming objective.

• Cosmetic finish.

The emphasis is on supporting the cosmetic condition of the skin and coat while respecting normal skin physiology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is canine skin always alkaline?

No. Published studies report a range of pH values depending on breed, body site and numerous biological and environmental factors. It is more accurate to think of canine skin pH as a range rather than a single number.

Is pH the only thing that determines whether a shampoo is suitable?

No. Product formulation, surfactant system, dilution, contact time, rinsing and conditioning all influence the outcome of a grooming routine.

Why shouldn't groomers chase a specific pH number?

Healthy skin continually regulates its own surface environment. Professional grooming should support normal skin function rather than attempting to force a permanent change in skin chemistry.