Children should be allowed to get dirty more often because being too clean can impair the skin's ability to heal itself, research suggests.
Scientists in the US discovered that bacteria on the surface of the skin play an active role in combating inflammation. The bugs dampen down over-active immune responses which can lead to rashes or cause cuts and bruises to become swollen and painful. "These germs are actually good for us," said Professor Richard Gallo, who led the research at the University of California at San Diego.