Researchers from the School of Medicine at UCLA have found that being too clean could impair the skin’s ability to heal.

The team discovered that normal bacteria that live on the skin trigger a pathway that helps prevent inflammation when we get hurt.  These bugs dampen overactive immune responses which can cause cuts and grazes to swell, or lead to rashes.

[Read](http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/23/grubby-children-scientists-immune-system “Read the Article”) (The Guardian)