Allergie

What is dust?

So what is dust? House dust is essentially a mixture of allergenic and inert particles. Dust particles are made up of many different substances. This includes bacteria, fibers from different household fabrics, food particles, mould and fungus spores. Other substances may include bits of insects and plants, or even hair and dander from pets. However, the most important substance for this article is the human dander.

From the above mentioned dust particles, a few are known allergens. This includes mould and fungus spores, animal hair and dander. The other is of course the dust mite itself. It is the allergens that causes the reactions and not the dust mites bites.

The other substances are usually inert. This means that they do not trigger an allergy. However, they can still cause an irritation. This fully dependent on the resistance levels of each person.

Many believe that house dust is made up mostly of dead human skin. However, this is actually not true. Unless you have a reptile or bird farm in your own 4 walls! It turns out that only very little of your environment is composed of shed skin.

As soon as a window or door is opened, all of the dust is stirred around. This means that a lot of the dust also comes from outside rather than inside.

Remember also that humans usually shave and bathe regularly. This is where the majority of the shed skin gets washed off. It will end up in sewers and not our floors at home.

Much more comforting now, isn’t it?

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are microscopic animals which were discovered in 1964. Another term for them is bed mites. They are relatives of the common spider and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Contrary to popular belief, dust mites bites are a myth. However, only recently have the allergic reactions been clarified towards them.

The two most important species are called Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. They both enjoy the warm and humid conditions. They can mostly be found where humans spend a lot of their time. This includes couches, chairs or carpets. Of the two, the Dermatophagoides farinae is the most common one.

Their favorite place however, is mattresses, toppers and pillows. At least if you have the wrong one. This is because we spend at least 30% of our lifetime on them. This means that we shed skin for them to feed on. In addition, when we sweat during the night we also create the damp conditions which they like. This is also where dust mites bites supposedly. However, it is the allergens that trigger the reaction.

This issue can easily be fixed if you sleep on the right mattress, topper or pillow. We will get to that in a little bit!

Dust mite allergy causes

It is important to understand that the dust mites are not the allergen themselves. Remember, an allergen is a particle which may trigger an allergic reaction. This depends on whether or not the individual is resistant to the allergen or not.

In fact, the dust mite itself is actually not dangerous to humans at all. It is not known to carry and human diseases or cause infections. Dust mites bites are a myth and they do not cause any skin irritations themselves.

The actual allergen is the dust mite droppings – not the dust mites bites. Although heavier than pollen, they have just the right size to enter the human respiratory tract. The reaction is connected with the stomach enzymes of the dust mites which are still in the droppings.

Although the droppings are not dangerous either, the issue is that your body may perceive it as so. This is what an allergy is in the end. Your body identifies a foreign invader of your body as dangerous although it isn’t. It has nothing to do with dust mites bites.

Your body then produces an inflammatory response. It produces proteins known as antibodies to protect you from the unwanted invaders. Especially if you are exposed to the allergen over a longer period of time, a chronic inflammation may set it. In some cases it is also associated with asthma.

By the way, just because you have dust mites at home does not mean that you have a dirty home. It is fully normal to have them at home. In fact, it is impossible to have none at all at home. The only thing you can do is regulate the amount and keep it on a minimum. We will get to more on this later in the article. We just felt the need to reassure you here!

Dust mite allergy treatment

Unfortunately there is no way to treat dust mites bites. That is because they are a myth!

The good news here is that over-the-counter medication will help you control your symptoms. If you have a more severe case, you may need to get prescription medication. Consult with your general practitioner about this.

The most common medication used to treat a dust mite allergy is Antihistamines. This will relieve itching, sneezing and watery eyes. This medication is used my many people who have allergies. This is because it hampers the allergic reaction. It tricks the body into realizing that the allergen is actually not dangerous.

Other medications include Decongestants and Nasal steroids. Decongestants will help ease and unclog your nose. On the other hand, nasal steroids will help reduce the swelling in your nose. This will allows you to breathe better.

In very severe cases, your general practitioner may also offer an immunotherapy. This is when you will get allergy shots. This is only done if you have an allergy over a longer period of time.

Another option would be Odactra. This would be an alternative to the shots. It is an allergen extract which can be taken under the tongue. A better alternative for those who have a fear of needles! It will also help against nasal and eye irritation caused by a dust mite allergy.

The best thing to do is to talk to your general practitioner. They will know what the best treatment is for you!

Dust mite allergy prevention

According to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, around 20% of people suffer from allergies at some time in their lives. You are definitely not alone!

This is why it is very important to minimize your exposure to allergens. This can be done in numerous ways!

First of all, it is important to wash your sheets on a weekly basis. You also have to do so with hot water. It is recommended to wash with at least 60°C/140°F. At best, you do so with 90°C/194°F. This will make sure that the dust mites will be killed. In addition, it will also wash away all of the allergens. This includes the droppings, as well as dead dust mite bodies.

If you are unable to wash with hot water, do not worry! You can also choose to use commercial products containing tea tree or eucalyptus oils. They are specially formulated to remove dust mites in cold water.

Another option is also to hot tumble dry the washed sheets. If you do so for 10 minutes, it will also have the same effect. However, dry cleaning is not as effective. We do not recommend to do so.

Secondly, you should use special dust mite covers. The dust mite covers are specially designed to keep the microscopic animals away from you. They should be washed every 2 months. Please also do so as described above.

Thirdly, you should remove all sheepskin or wool products from your bedroom. This way, you take away one of their other favorite spots to nest in. Why make it easy on them, right?

And finally, make sure to remove all soft toys from the bed and bedroom. This is especially important if you have kids. Once again you take away a place where they can feed and breed. Who wants their infants to play with possibly harmful allergens?

Here are a few more steps you can take. They apply to both the bedroom and other living spaces:

1. Replace carpets with wooden floors

2. Damp dust hard surfaces weekly

3. Vacuum clean weekly, especially on carpets

4. Make sure that it is not too humid

5. Replace curtains with blinds

6. Consider having leather or vinyl sofas and chairs instead of cloth

7. Do not sleep in the same room as your pet

Dust Mite Allergy Treatment

Unfortunately there is no way to treat dust mite bites. That is because they are a myth! (Joke’s on you!)

Right, let’s get serious though.

Types of Medication

The good news here is that over-the-counter medication will help you control your symptoms. If you have a more severe case, you may need to get prescription medication. Consult with your general practitioner about this.

The most common medication used to treat a dust mite allergy are Antihistamines. This will relieve itching, sneezing and watery eyes.

This medication is used by many people who have allergies because it hampers the allergic reaction. In simple terms: it tricks the body into realizing that the allergen is actually not dangerous.

Other medications include Decongestants and Nasal Steroids. Decongestants will help ease and unclog your nose. On the other hand, nasal steroids will help reduce the swelling in your nose. This will allows you to breathe better.

Imunotherapy

In very severe cases, your general practitioner may also offer immunotherapy. This is when you will get allergy shots and works on the same principle as a vaccination. However, this is only done if you have an allergy over a longer period of time.

Another option would be Odactra. This would be an alternative to the shots. It is an allergen extract which can be taken under the tongue.

It’s essentially the better alternative for those who have a fear of needles! It will also help against nasal and eye irritation caused by the dust mite allergy.

The best thing to do is to talk to your general practitioner. They will know what the best treatment is for you!

Top 4 Dust Mite Allergy Prevention Methods

According to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, around 20% of people suffer from allergies at some time in their lives.

You are definitely not alone!

This is why it is very important to minimize your exposure to allergens in general. Let’s take a look at a few ways to get rid of those pesky dust mites!

#1 Wash the Wash

First of all, it is important to wash your sheets on a weekly basis by using hot water.

It is recommended to wash with at least 60°C/140°F, but 90°C/194°F is even better! This will make sure that the dust mites will be killed.

In addition, it will also wash away all of the allergens. This includes the droppings, as well as dead dust mite bodies – yuck!

If you are unable to wash with hot water, do not worry! You can also choose to use commercial products containing tea tree or eucalyptus oils. They are specially formulated to remove dust mites in cold water.

Another option is also to hot tumble dry the washed sheets. If you do so for 10 minutes, it will also have the same effect.

However, dry cleaning is not as effective, which is why we do not recommend to do so.

#2 Take Cover

Did you know that there are special dust mite covers?

The dust mite covers are specially designed to keep the microscopic animals away from you.

In comparison to normal sheets, they only need to be washed every 2 months. They should also be washed in the same manner as usual sheets (see above).

#3 Fluffy Isn’t Always Good

Have any sheepskin or woollen products in your bedroom?

As much as we love the fluffy feeling as well, we’ll have to tell you some bad news here.

They are one of the favourite spots for those pesky critters to nest in.

We highly recommend that you get rid of them.

After all, why make it easy on them, right?

#4 Toy Story

Have any pets or kids?

Make sure to remove all soft toys from the bed and bedroom.

This is especially important if you have kids as they will also be unhappy to know that there are dust mites lurking.

Once again, you take away a place where they can feed and breed.

Who wants their infants to play with possibly harmful allergens?

Here are a few more steps you can take. They apply to both the bedroom and other living spaces:

1. Replace carpets with wooden floors

2. Damp-dust hard surfaces weekly

3. Vacuum clean at least weekly, especially on carpets

4. Make sure that it is not too humid in your living space

5. Replace curtains with blinds

6. Consider having leather or vinyl sofas and chairs instead of cloth

7. Do not sleep in the same room as your pet

An Even Better Way is Vita Talalay

So, why is Vita Talalay great against dust mites?

As mentioned earlier, one of the favourite spots for dust mites is the space you sleep in.

This is because they feed off your dead skin. In addition, your sweat you excrete during the night helps create the damp environment they need.

However, this is not the case with Vita Talalay latex products.

This is because it is so ventilating that it will never create a damp environment. It simply does not give dust mites a chance to thrive, making Vita Talalay latex hypoallergenic.

If you would like to know more about the hypoallergenic properties of Vita Talalay latex, please click here.

In addition, we also recommend you to read this article. It highlights the breathable properties of Vita Talalay latex, and compares it to other comfort materials.

The Bottom Line

Dust mite bites are a myth.

What causes you to have the skin irritations and other symptoms is an allergic reaction.

Dust mites will always be there. The only thing we can do is keep the exposure to a minimum.

One fantastic way to do so is to make sure that you have the right mattress, topper and pillow - Vita Talalay latex is the answer to that.

If you combine that with the above mentioned prevention tips, you and your family will be able to sleep healthy and wake up refreshed.

Also, find out more about the many other benefits of Vita Talalay here.