Apparently, current research shows that children who occasionally get dirty, benefit from the bacteria, namely Staphylococci, which interfere with an overactive inflammatory response that can cause more swelling of cuts or bruises.
This seems to support the "hygiene hypothesis" that supported the notion that if a child was not exposed to diseases, their resistance was less. So, a little dirt seems to be good for kids.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/5/34585/bacteria-dirt-skin-help-prevent-inflam...
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