Surface bacteria vital in preventing skin inflammation

Findings of the study suggest that bacteria living on the surface of the skin may be very vital in maintaining a healthy skin texture. And it may also help the parents to realize that playing in dirt doesn’t do any harm to the kids.

"These germs are actually good for us," said Richard L. Gallo, professor of medicine and pediatrics, chief of University of California at San Diego’s (UCSD) Division of Dermatology and the Dermatology section of the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System.

Surface bacteria good for skin
The study published in online journal Nature Medicine was conducted in mice and human cells cultured in the laboratory, and primarily performed by post-doctoral fellow Yu Ping Lai.

The team found that common bacteria called staphylococci can reduce inflammatory response after injury, when present on the epidermis or the skin's surface. However, if the bacteria are introduced below the skin surface, it is likely to stimulate an inflammatory response.

Researchers explained that the effect occurs due to a molecule called staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid that acts on keratinocytes, the primary cell type found in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.

Prof Gallo, said, "The exciting implication of Dr. Lai’s work is that it provides a molecular basis to understand the hygiene hypothesis and has uncovered elements of the wound repair response that were previously unknown.

"This may help us devise new therapeutic approaches for inflammatory skin diseases."

Hygiene Hypothesis
Introduced in the late 1980’s, the hygiene hypothesis suggests that a lack of childhood exposure to germs may make them more vulnerable to diseases and inflammation.

Scientists first developed the hypothesis to explain why children from large families and presumably exposed to more infectious germs were less vulnerable to allergies like hay fever and eczema.

Parenting groups at San Diego welcomed the findings as “a vindication of common sense”.

Sue Palmer, children’s campaigner and author of the book Toxic Childhood, said, “Clearly parents need to make sure their children are hygienic, but wrapping them up in cotton wool and not allowing them exposure to germs is just as damaging.”

According to the charity, Allergy UK, nearly four in 10 people in Britain suffer from skin allergies.