We’ve all heard how important antibacterial products are but let’s not rush to condemn ALL bacteria. A recent study by researchers at the University of California has revealed that the normal bacteria we all have on our skin can help reduce injury-related inflammation.
Hello hygiene!
“These germs are actually good for us” declared Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD, chief of UCSD’s Division of Dermatology. Gallo also pointed out that this work gives us a basis for understanding the alleged ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ an idea introduced in the late 1980s that suggests if you’re not exposed to dirt and germs as a child that you may actually have a lower resistance to certain kinds of inflammation. (This theory could explain why certain childhood allergies are on the rise.)
Beneficial bacteria
Here’s how germs protect us: Scientists knew that our bodies are covered with staphylococcal bacterial species that do nothing when they just sit on the surface of the skin but that create an inflammatory response when they penetrate the skin. But in this new study, researchers discovered that a by-product of staphylococci can actually inhibit inflammation. This by-product, staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA), acts on keratinocytes, the main type of surface skin cell, and prevents them from becoming over inflamed. So these germs really are good for us.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Saying that being too clean can actually make you get sick is an over simplification, but you get the idea. Or if you don’t, follow the link to read the entire article at Science Daily.
What do YOU think? Were you allowed to play in the dirt as a kid? Or did your parents keep you squeaky clean? And how do you treat your own kids? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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There is still so much we don’t know about skincare and especially natural treatments. Great article, thanks! ~ Vivoderm
It’s true, being so super conscious on your skin may irritate more if expose on a little dust or sunlight, so better make your skin be immune with dust and pollutants for a little.
GREAT article! i’m not sure what the two comments above have to do with it though. what i love most is it reminds us how we can be so hygienic it’s detrimental. on a parallel note, in today’s society with all the antibacterial wipes and gels i wonder how the children will fare. i won’t mention the things i got into and exposed myself to as a child, suffice to say any parent today would be appalled, but i thank my great immunity to that experience….i hardly ever truly get sick, can’t say i’ve had colds or flus…and if anyone knew my medical stats they may be honestly surprised.
I’m with Joseph above. I grew up in an apartment building with lots of kids and had pretty much every childhood ailment as my mother only let me have vaccinations for the really dangerous stuff. We played in the dirt outside, picked up (and ate) gum from the street (grosss!!!) etc.
I hardly ever get sick. Before getting the swine flu this spring it had been several years since I had a cold or flu.
I don’t understand this craze for “antibacterial” stuff anyway, like hand wash soap. Shouldn’t regular soap, regular dish washer etc. be suffice?
“We’ve all heard how important antibacterial products are but let’s not rush to condemn ALL bacteria. ”
I thought it was interesting that this is how you opened this post because I don’t believe that we’ve all heard how important antibacterial products are. Maybe you’ve been hearing that from friends, but regardless of skin care, there seems to be a consensus that not only does regular soap suffice, there is serious concern that antibacterial products (as well as antibiotics) are creating resistant, super-germs.
(As for the regular soap, it works if used correctly people! Learn how to wash your hands long enough! Even if you use antibacterial soap, if youre washing your hands for 3 seconds youre not doing much…)
I appreciate your attempt to debunk the myth, but I feel like the first line is still giving some credence to the power of antibacterial products.
@Bellerina: Would you feel better if I had said “We’ve all heard the misconception about how important antibacterial products are…?”
I’ve been working on a paper about the decision to vaccinate one’s children lately. There’s a subsection of the anti-vax camp that swear by antibacterial this & that, keeping their kids away from dirt, etc. as a layer of protection. I wonder if their kids end up even more vulnerable to infection?
Wow I had no idea, this is a great article! Here is another great article about beauty and dry eyes that I think you will all enjoy!
http://whatistheeye.wordpress.com/
Very true, being too clean sometimes is not good just like the saying too much of anything is bad.