Dust mites result to an allergy referred to as dust mite allergy. Humans and pets such as dogs and cats are prone to this skin problem and as result it a rash can develop. Read on to find out how parasitic allergy comes about, pictures, causes and symptoms associated with it, how to get rid as well as the prevention measures.
Table of Contents
What is it & Cause
This is an allergy which is triggered by presence of dust mites in your home. This allergy causes several skin reactions to people of all ages and pets.
Causes of this the allergy include;
When your immune system reacts to foreign substances such as dust mite, you end up with an allergy. Your immune system produces an inflammatory response when you are in contact with an allergen.
This response is mostly in your lungs or nasal passage. The chronic inflammation which causes asthma is associated with too much exposure to an allergen.
There are two ways through which dust mites can cause allergies;
- As they eat, dust mites produce waste. This waste is usually the allergen that causes the allergy for some people.
- The body parts or bodies of these microscopic organisms are the other cause of allergies. When dust mites die with their bodies being left behind, you will still be in danger of getting dust mite allergies. Produced during their life cycle, the remains following death of dust mites are considered to be second allergen.[1]
Is everyone allergic to dust mites?
Although most people experience the irritation which comes with dust in the surrounding, only some people show a true allergic reaction to dust mites.
The allergic sensitivity varies from one person to another and that explains why not everyone will get an allergy when exposed to dust mites.
According to medical practitioners, these microscopic creatures prefer to feed on the skin of hypersensitive (allergic) individuals because the lipids in their skin are different from those of non-allergic people.
Dust Mite Itchy Skin Rash and other Symptoms
Skin reactions-rashes
When your skin comes into contact with dust mites, you are likely to suffer a rash. Such skin rashes are caused by allergens.
The rashes form when your immune system reacts to certain dust mite protein. Skin rashes that come as a result of dust mites are usually itchy and red, and they form small bumps.
Itching skin
Almost all dust mite allergy symptoms are associated with itchiness. The allergens causing the allergic reaction are responsible for the itching.
The itching can be on the skin, which is in case of skin rashes and hives, or even on your eyes, roof of your mouth or your nose.
Even if you are among the few people who do not portray serious allergic reactions upon exposure to dust mites, you may sometimes feel some itchiness on your body when you are in your house.
The itchiness disappears after a short while and you do not actually see what was causing the itching. In most cases, it is the microscopic dust mites that are crawling on your skin.
Hives
Among the many allergens that cause hives are dust mites. Hives are characterized by red blotchy patches which do not stay long on your skin before they disappear.
However, they have a tendency of coming back. Hives appear as raised itchy bumps on your skin.
The bumps that result from skin rashes discussed above may join to form hives. Hives are usually itchy and they can either be acute, that is lasting for days or weeks, or chronic; meaning they go on for months.[2]
Other symptoms associated with dust mites are as listed below and most of them are associated with your nasal passage inflammation;
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Cough
- Postnasal drip
- Facial pressure and pain
- Frequent rubbing of the nose in children
- Blue colored skin under your eyes (the skin is swollen in most cases)
- Itchy, watery and red eyes
Where dust mite allergy triggers your asthma, you are likely to portray the following symptoms;
- Chest tightness and pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Trouble in sleeping following wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath
- A loud wheezing or whistling sound when you are exhaling
Although most of these symptoms of dust mite allergy may go away on their own, you should see your doctor if your nasal congestion is severe and if the wheezing is making it hard for you to sleep.[3]
Dogs & Cats
According to Dr Becker, a wellness veterinarian, in dogs, signs in dogs include bacterial skin infections; itching, especially around the face and on the feet; recurrent ear inflammation or infections; and seborrhea 9a red, itchy rash with white scales).
In cats signs include; skin lesions; itching; acne on the chin; recurrent ear inflammation or infections; and pillow foot
How to get & home remedies
Homeopathic
Dust mite allergy can be treated using homeopathic treatment. This treatment involves use of natural and hence non-toxic substances to treat dust mite allergy.
Homeopathic treatment therefore comes with no side effects. These medicines can be taken for long periods since they are not habit forming.
Homeopathic treatment works by stimulating the immune system which is weakened following the attack by dust mites.
The treatment is very effective since it offers permanent treatment meaning that it prevents future recurrence of the allergy.
There are three top grade homeopathic remedies for dust mite allergy symptoms. These are; Allium Cepa, Arsenic Album, and Arundo. Where the dust mite allergy results to watery red eyes with a lot of itching, you should use Allium Cepa.
On the other hand, Arsenic Album is best used when the allergy causes you to have a watery thin discharge from the nose that comes with sneezing.
When the allergy causes itching on the roof of the mouth and in the nostrils, you should use Arundo. There are other available homeopathic treatment options based on dust allergy symptoms and they are discussed as follows;
Sneezing and running nose
Apart from Arsenic Album mentioned above, Sabadilla is also very effective in treating dust allergy whose symptoms are a runny nose and sneezing.
Where the nasal discharge is watery, it can be effectively treated using Sabadilla. Arsenic Album is best used when the patients symptoms of sneezing persist and where the patient also experiences dryness of the nasal cavity.
Red and watery eyes
From the introduction on homeopathic treatment, Allium Cepa is the best option when the dust mite allergy symptoms are red and watery eyes. Another effective homeopathic medicine is Euphrasia.
While Allium Cepa is used where the patient experiences intense burning, biting, and itching of the eyes; Euphrasia is excellent for treating the allergy in case you experience too much water in your eyes and a feeling of sand sensation in the eyes.
Itching in the nose and the roof of your mouth
Arundo is considered the top grade option in treating dust mite allergy which comes with these symptoms.
Arundo is best used if you are sneezing and have intense itching on the roof of your mouth. Other homeopathic medicines include; Arum Triphyllum, and Wyethia.
If you have a raw feeling on the palate or roof of your mouth and soreness of your nostrils due to so much itching, you should opt for Arum Triphyllum. In case you have itching in the posterior sinuses and nose, you should use wyethia.
Difficulty in breathing
Spongia and pothos are the main homeopathic remedies used when you experience difficulty in breathing due to dust mite allergy.
If you feel like you are breathing through a sponge following an exposure to dust mites, you should use spongia to relive yourself of the symptoms.
However, if the dust mite allergy is characterized by dyspnea and a feeling of anxiety and stress, you are advised to use pothos. If your asthma becomes worse every time you are exposed to dust, you should consider using pothos.
Cough
If the dust mite allergy is characterized by a cough, the homeopathic treatment options are bromium and drosera.
Where the cough resulting from dust mite allergy is dry, bromium is the preferred treatment option. However, where the cough is not only dry but also gets worse after midnight, you are advised to use drosera.
Nasal congestion
Ammonium Carbonicum and Nux Vomica are the homeopathic remedies where dust mite allergy results to nasal congestion.
Where only the tip of your nose is congested, you should opt for ammonium carbonicum. If your nose becomes stuffed at night, the treatment option you should go for is Nux Vomica.[4]
Allergy shots dust mites
Referred to as subcutaneous immunotherapy, allergy shots are among the effective treatment options for dust mite allergies.
It involves a series of shots that contain allergens in high amounts. During the first phase of treatment, you receive an injection of the allergens which goes into the fat on the lower side of your skin.
In most cases, you will have to receive the shots for about one to three years before experiencing total relief from the allergies.
When used for long periods such as five years, these shots provide long-lasting relief from dust mite allergy symptoms.[5]
Sublingual immunotherapy
Unlike subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy treats dust mite allergies without use of injections.
If you opt for this mode of treatment, you will be required to put small doses of allergens under your tongue.
This improves the way your immune system tolerates dust mites and reduces the symptoms associated with the dust mite allergies.
Other treatment options which you can acquire over the counter to treat dust must allergies include;
- Nasal corticosteroid which is a type of nose sprays. It reduces any swelling in your nose that comes with the allergic reactions. These corticosteroids reduce nasal congestion and are considered among the best medicines since they have few side effects.
- Antihistamines are another treatment option and they are available in form of liquids, pills and nose sprays. They mostly relieve itching of the eyes and nose as well as sneezing. They also reduce nasal stuffiness and runny nose.
- Cromolyn sodium blocks the possibility of release of chemicals that lead to allergy symptoms. It comes inform of a nose spray. This medicine is taken four times a day for the best results.
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists are also a treatment option since they block the action of chemical messengers which are associated with allergic reactions. They however do not block histamine.
- Decongestants that come as liquids, pills, drops and nose sprays relieve stuffiness in your nose by shrinking the lining of the nasal passages.
How to prevent
Once you realize that you experience the above dust mite allergy symptoms, you will need to work out a mechanism which ensures you prevent the possibility of such allergies. Some of the preventive measures are discussed below;
Boost the health of your skin from inside
The manner in which you react to exposure to allergens may be triggered by the state of health of your health.
Nutritional deficiencies make it hard for your body to fight any foreign materials. You may need to change your diet just to be sure it is a diet which takes care of the nutritional requirements of your skin.
Avoid exposure to dust mites
If you do not want to have dust mite allergy, you will need to by all means avoid coming into contact with dust mites.
Constantly cleaning your house and wiping off any dust using a damp cloth is the easiest way to keep dust mites away. There is an article which fully discusses ways of getting rid of dust mites as well as preventing them.
Use dust proof pillow and mattress covers
The covers are allergen-impermeable. The holes in these covers are too tiny as not to allow any dust mites in.
There are various types of covers available in the market. There are vinyl and plastic covers both of which are considered uncomfortable even though they are cheaper than other covers.
Use hot water to wash your bedding regularly
Dust mites love your bedroom and that is why you must do everything to prevent the existence of these mites on your bedding.
You are advised to wash your bedding in hot water at least once a week. The temperature at which you wash the dust mites should be at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. It is only at this temperature or more that dust mites will die.[6]
Do not clean your dusty room
Since your aim is to prevent any possibility of getting the dust mite allergy, you should not risk dusting your room all by yourself since that way you, will be exposed to the dust mites.
Always seek cleaning assistance from someone who does not have the allergy.
Use Hepa filter vacuum cleaners
This type of vacuum cleaner ensures that it removes all dust mites and their wastes from your house without the possibility of allowing any of them to stay in the air.
More about Dust Mites
- Facts about dust mites, how they look like in pictures, signs and frequently asked questions
- Dealing with dust mites bites
- How to get rid of dust mites naturally and with use of chemicals
Sources
[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318419.php
[2] http://www.compallergy.net/hives-and-swelling.html
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352173
[4] https://www.drhomeo.com/homeopathic-treatment/homeopathic-treatment-dust-allergy/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5034865/
[6] https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/311dusmi.pdf