There’s been a lot of buzz going on out there lately about the importance of a healthy “Microbiome.” But the truth is, most people have NO IDEA what that means.  We’re here to break it down for you and explain why this uber-trendy word is one that you need to familiarize yourself with.

Let’s start with the actual definition: Microbiome (Noun) 

mi·​cro·​bi·​ome | \ ˌmī-krō-ˈbī-ˌōm  \

1. A community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit a particular environment and especially the collection of microorganisms living in or on the body.  

While that may sound gross or ‘dirty’ to some – the microbiome is actually our skin’s living, protective layer.  Not all bacteria is “bad” bacteria – in fact, we need “good” bacteria to thrive in and on our bodies in order to maintain a healthy life.  The skin microbiome is home to billions of bacteria at any given time – both good and bad.  When the balance of good and bad bacteria gets out of whack and the bad bacteria is given the opportunity to take over, we experience symptoms of inflammation, irritation and other health problems.  For the skin, these symptoms of a microbiome that is off-balance often appear as itch, odor, redness, dryness, etc.

Enter topical probiotics…

It has been proven that when applied to the skin, probiotics do an incredible job at supporting and strengthening the “good” bacteria on the skin so that it can more effectively defend against opportunistic pathogens and “bad” bacteria from taking over.  Probiotics are the ultimate protector, preventer and defender against our skin’s worst enemies (bad bacteria) – and when applied regularly can offer an effective, natural way to keep skin problems from occurring in the first place.

So it’s no surprise that the trend of Probiotic Skin Care has quickly evolved as one of the hottest, most innovative solutions in human beauty and skin care products to treat our most common skin problems: acne, rosacea, etc.  Check any beauty shelf or cosmetic counter at retail today and you’ll find a selection of items that claim probiotics as a key, active ingredient for balancing and restoring skin health.

So, since probiotics offer such a powerful solution for treating human skin care woes – just imagine the possibilities when it comes to using topical probiotics on our favorite furry family members (our pets)!  Just as we suffer from time to time from skin irritations and inflammation due to environmental factors, genetics, etc. – so do our pets.  Any pet parent can recall a moment when their dog or cat has gone crazy itching or scratching the same spot for  hours – and we all know how odor control can be a problem when it comes to a pet with ongoing skin irritations.  We want our pets to look, feel (and smell!) their best – and today’s pet parents are constantly seeking new opportunities to improve their dog or cat’s well being.

Our pet’s skin microbiome is just as sensitive as our own.  When the balance of good and bad bacteria gets off track, we start to see problems like hot spots, itching/licking, odor, shedding, dander and dryness.  Unfortunately the most common response to date has been a cycle of “treat and repeat” – using shampoos/topical treatments that temporarily relieve the presenting problem (oatmeal baths for itch, steroids for inflammation/redness, etc.).  The problem is that once those treatments wear off, the same underlying cause of the symptoms is still there – which is ultimately an imbalance in the pet’s skin microbiome.  Until the good bacteria on their skin is effectively restored and supported, pets suffering from recurring problems will never be cured.

At Skout’s Honor we are excited to offer a new solution for pet parents who have been on that treat-and-repeat cycle with their own animal(s).  We saw an exciting opportunity in the science behind topical probiotics and the results it has offered humans for transforming skin care/health.

Through the introduction of our Probiotic Skin Care line for pets – we’ve unleashed a game changer for the pet industry and the grooming category in particular.  Our Probiotic shampoos, conditioners and daily-use treatments are infused with a live probiotic kefir culture, which offers an incredibly hydrating, soothing and luxurious grooming experience – while providing a powerful boost of probiotics to the skin and coat.  That boost leaves the animal feeling clean, soft, shiny and smelling amazing.  Best of all, the probiotics that are left behind after the wash provide an active, preventative approach to skin health – helping support the good bacteria on the animal’s skin in order to keep the bad bacteria away.

Don’t take our word for it.  Since launching this innovative line, our Probiotic grooming products have received several industry awards and accolades from pet industry experts including Pet Age Magazine, Pet Business Magazine, etc.  Every day we receive new testimonials and before/after images from pet parents, professional groomers and veterinarians who say that our products have been able to restore skin and coat health for animals who have long-suffered chronic skin problems.