What Is Dust Mite Allergy?
A dust mite allergy (dust allergy) is an allergic reaction to tiny bugs that live in the dust in your house.
About 20 million Americans are allergic to these bugs. If you're allergic to dust mites, you may feel as if you have an endless cold or even asthma.
Dust mites are related to ticks and spiders. But they’re too small to see with the naked eye. You can only see them under a microscope. They look like white bugs and have eight legs like spiders. They like to live in temperatures of 68 to 77 F (where it’s not too hot or too cold) and humidity levels of 70%-80%.
Dust mites eat your dead skin cells in dust and places such as your bedding, furniture, and carpet.
Medication can help, and you can take simple steps to keep the dust mites away.
Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms
Dust allergy symptoms are similar to those of pollen allergies. They include:
- Red, itchy, watery eyes
- Itchy, runny, stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy mouth or throat
- Itchy skin
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Tiredness
- Postnasal drip
- Difficulty sleeping due to these symptoms
Dust mite allergy can also trigger your symptoms if you have asthma. You might have:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or pain
- Cough
- Wheezing or whistling when you breathe out
Dust mite allergy can cause you to have these symptoms all through the year. Because dust mites live in pillows, bedding, and mattresses, you’ll likely have these symptoms when you’re asleep or after waking up.
Dust Mite Allergy Causes
Allergies happen when your immune system reacts to things such as pollen or dust mites. When your immune system sees something as harmful, it causes allergic inflammation.
That’s why allergies give you symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose, similar to what you might have during a cold. If your symptoms get really severe or last a long time, they can lead to asthma.
You’re more likely to have a dust allergy if you:
- Have a family history of dust or other allergies
- Are exposed to lots of dust and dust mites
- Are a child or young adult
Dust Mite Allergy Diagnosis
If your doctor thinks you might have a dust allergy, they will:
- Ask about your symptoms and exposure to dust
- Ask about what your home looks like
- Check inside your nose to see if it’s swollen or pale and bluish
These are the standard tests used in diagnosing dust mite allergy:
Skin prick test
Your doctor will likely start with this allergy skin test, which can show whether you have an allergy within 20 minutes. They will prick your skin with a tiny needle containing dust mite extract. If you’re allergic, your skin will get itchy and red.
However, this test may show that you have an allergy when you don’t. Your doctor may also not perform this test if you have skin inflammation or are taking allergy medicines.
Nasal provocation test
This test involves exposing you to dust mites to see how your body reacts. Your doctor will put a small amount of this allergen into your nose to see if it causes an allergic reaction. You may go for this test if you need proof of a dust mite allergy, such as if you're making a disability claim.
IgE blood test
Your doctor might also do this blood test to look for certain antibodies. This is usually done when you can’t have a skin test or take certain medicines. Your doctor will take your blood sample to a lab where they will add allergens to your blood sample. The lab will look at the amount of antibodies your blood produces to attack the allergens.
This test could also show that you have an allergen when you don’t.
Dust Mite Allergy Treatment
Over-the-counter or prescription allergy drugs can help control your symptoms.
- Antihistamines relieve itching, sneezing, and watery eyes.
- Decongestants ease or unclog a stuffy nose.
- Nasal steroids reduce swelling in your nose so you can breathe better.
- Leukotriene modifiers block certain chemicals in your immune system.
Other treatments include:
- Allergy shots (immunotherapy) to train your immune system not to react
- An allergen extract (Odactra) placed under the tongue, which can replace shots
- Nasal irrigation with a saline solution, which can clear out your nose and sinuses
Talk to your doctor about which treatment is best for you.
Dust Mite Allergy Prevention
The best strategy is to limit your contact with dust and dust mites. To get rid of dust mites in your home, keep their living habits in mind. They prefer temperatures of about 70 F or higher and humidity of 70%-80%. They can't survive in colder, drier places.
In the U.S., dust mite allergies peak in July and August, when dust mite populations are high because of warm weather.
Dust mites like to eat dead skin from pets and humans. You probably shed enough skin onto your carpet, bed, and furniture to feed a million dust mites every day.
To get rid of dust and dead skin, start in the bedroom. Large numbers of dust mites can gather in mattresses, bedding, and upholstered furniture. Wear a mask while cleaning to limit your contact with dust while you clean.
Focus on the bedroom
- Put airtight plastic dust mite covers on pillows, mattresses, and box springs.
- Use pillows filled with polyester fibers instead of kapok or feathers.
- Wash bedding in very hot water (over 130 F) once a week. The water needs to be this hot to kill dust mites.
- Dry the bedding in a hot dryer.
- If your bedroom is in a basement with a concrete floor, move upstairs if you can. Concrete stays damp and creates the moist, humid environment that dust mites love.
Clean the house regularly
- Clean bare floors often with a damp mop or cloth.
- Vacuum carpets once or twice a week. Use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
- Don’t forget to get under and behind the couch and fridge and between appliances.
- Consider replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood or vinyl floors.
- Wash throw rugs in hot water.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture such as sofas. Wood, leather, plaster, or metal furniture is better if you have dust allergies.
- Replace drapes with roll-up window shades. If you must have curtains, wash them in hot water each season.
- Use a damp cloth to dust so you don’t just move the particles around.
- Get rid of stuffed animals, soft toys, and other dust collectors. If your child can’t part with something, wash it or put it in the freezer for 48 hours to kill dust mites.
- Reduce clutter to make your home easier to clean.
Keep the air clean and dry
- Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to lower humidity.
- Put a HEPA filter with a MERV rating of 11-13 in your heating and air-conditioning unit. You can find the rating listed on the packaging. Change the filter every 3 months.
- Cover indoor vents with cheesecloth. It can catch dust and allergens.
- Keep humidity in your home between 40% and 50%. Use a hygrometer to measure it. You can get one at hardware and building supply stores.
Protect yourself
- Consider having someone without a dust mite allergy clean your room to protect yourself from dust mites.
- If that’s not an option, wear a filtering or HEPA mask during dusting or vacuuming. You can find these masks at drug stores, online retail stores, or pharmacy chains such as CVS, Amazon, and Walmart.
- Stay out of your room for a while so that you don’t breathe in any leftover dust mites.
Dust Mite Allergy Complications
When you continue being exposed to dust mites without taking any caution, you might end up having more health problems such as:
- Sinusitis
- Asthma and asthma attacks
- Eczema
- Increased sensitivity to irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and dry air
Takeaways
A dust mite allergy is a common type of allergy that happens when you come in contact with bugs that live in the dust in your house. It causes symptoms that look like those of pollen allergy, such as itchy eyes, nose, throat, mouth, or skin. It can also trigger or worsen your asthma symptoms. Over-the-counter or prescription medicines such as antihistamines and allergy shots can help manage your symptoms. It’s also best to reduce your contact with dust and dust mites, as prolonged exposure can cause more health problems.
Dust Mite Allergy FAQs
Can dust make you sick?
Yes, dust can make you sick. It could have common allergens such as pet dander, mold, pollen, and dust mites, which can make you feel sick if you are allergic to them and breathe them in or touch them.
How do you know if you have dust mites?
If you or someone else often has allergy symptoms in your space, you might have dust mites.
Can you be allergic to airborne dirt?
Yes, you can be allergic to airborne dirt such as pet dander and dust mites.
What kills dust mites immediately?
Washing your bedding in hot water that is at least 130 F can kill dust mites. You can also freeze bedroom items you can’t wash for 24 hours to kill dust mites.
