Dust mites feed on organic waste, such as flakes of human skin, and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings. House dust mites are a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. Their guts contain potent digestive enzymes that persist in their faeces and are major inducers of allergic reactions. Their exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions, such as the ones below, but fortunately, mites do not transmit diseases, they do not sting or have further contact with the human skin. Steps to reduce the number of dust mites in your home can often control dust mite allergy and medications or other treatments may be necessary to relieve symptoms and manage asthma.
Symptoms of allergic reactions to dust mites:
- wheezing,
- coughing;
- a tight feeling in the chest area;
- breathlessness;
- runny nose;
- itchy nose;
- itchy eyes;
- itchy skin;
- skin rashes.
No matter how clean a home is, dust mites cannot be totally eliminated, however, the number of mites can be reduced in your household, by applying a series of preventive solutions
Methods of prevention against dust mites
- Reduce humidity by increasing ventilation and use extra fans in bathrooms and kitchens;
- If available, use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to reduce the level of humidity to about 50% or below in your whole house;
- Encase your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen impermeable covers;
- Wash all bedding and blankets once a week in hot water (at least 130 – 140°F) to kill dust mites. Non-washable bedding can be frozen overnight to kill dust mites and their eggs;
- Washable stuffed toys should be washed as frequently and at the same temperature as bedding. Alternatively, if the toy cannot be washed at 60 degrees place it in a plastic bag in the freezer for at least 12 hours once a month and then wash at the recommended temperature;
- Air out the bedding by leaving them to air for about an hour, as this will remove the humidity caused by the overnight perspiration;
- Replace wool or feathered bedding with synthetic materials and traditional stuffed animals with washable ones;
- Replace carpets with hardwood floors and thick curtains with plastic blinds as this will help will avoiding the appearance of humid places where mites thrive;
- If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpets in bedrooms with bare floors (linoleum, tile or wood) and remove fabric curtains and upholstered furniture;
- Steam clean your clothing in your closet. Besides freshening the clothes, making them smell fresh and taking out wrinkles, it also kills any dust mites that are so happy to nest in your clothing;
- Use a damp mop or rag to remove dust. Never use a dry cloth since this just stirs up mite allergens;
- Vacuum regularly with a high-filtration vacuum cleaner. Use a high-temperature cleaner to kill mites effectively;
- Wear a mask while vacuuming to avoid inhaling allergens, and stay out of the vacuumed area for 20 minutes to allow any dust and allergens to settle after vacuuming;
- Reduce the clutter around your house: remove tabletop ornaments, books, magazines and newspapers from your bedroom, as anything that can collect dust, can also collects dust mites.
Avoiding exposure to dust mites is the best strategy for controlling dust mite allergy. You can also apply the methods above at the office as well, making sure the space is well ventilated, the offices are well cleaned and uncluttered and clothes are hung away from the desks and traffic areas to prevent dust and allergens from it being disturbed and released in the air.
Measures to avoid house dust mite will lower, but will not totally remove dust mite allergens. Often, this will be sufficient to significantly improve symptoms of allergies, but sometimes, the reduction may simply not be enough to result in a noticeable difference. There is no way to predict whether someone will benefit from avoidance measures, except by trying them. Remember that it is better to properly carry out several allergen avoidance measures in order to see an improvement in symptoms. Just doing one or two things half-heartedly may not make any difference.
How do you kill dust mites that are on your body and head.
Hello. We have no information on this matter. Ideally, you should consult a dermatologist.