A dirty house could be beneficial to children’s skin, according to a new study.

BY Amy Anderson 4 July, 2007

The study, carried out at the Arizona Respiratory Centre in the US and presented at American Thoracic Society in May, has found that a bacteria present in common house dust could help prevent the development of eczema and asthma in children.

Most house dust bacteria contain toxic substances called endotoxins and the study found that children with higher levels of endotoxins in their homes had a lower incidence of eczema and asthma.

Researchers have yet to find the reason why children with higher exposure to endotoxins are less prone to allergic diseases.