Breaking News: Why Dust Mites Cause Problems for All Allergy Sufferers
Dust mites have been
linked to allergies and asthma for decades, but we are just now beginning to understand the full extent of that link. According
study to be published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, an enzyme in dust mite feces destroys the protective function of the skin, leaving it
vulnerable to other allergens and irritants.
Toshiro Takai of the Atopy (Allergy) Research Center in Tokyo explains, "In a healthy person, the barrier is complete and irritants can't get into the skin. But
partial disruption of the barrier facilitates passage of allergens and other irritants."
While this study brings a new perspective to the link between dust mites and allergies, the news is not completely surprising. Consider the main source of food
for house dust mites: dead human skin. As a matter of fact, human skin flakes account for about 80% of house dust. Since dust mites survive by eating
dead human skin, it is no surprise that they excrete a protein which damages the skin. Think about it: People with damaged, irritated skin will scratch and shed
more often, thereby providing more food for dust mites.
Thanks to this new study, we now know that dust mite allergen not only affects those who are sensitive to it, but it also affects all allergy
sufferers. Dust mite feces contain the allergen DerP1, which is a digestive protease enzyme. This enzyme works so well that, even after the dust mite is
dead, excreted DerP1 continues to destroy the protective function of human skin, making it easier for all allergens and irritants to enter the body and confuse
the immune system.
Now more than ever, it is apparent that all allergy sufferers must be aware of the pervasive problem of dust mites and how to eliminate their harmful enzymes.
How to Kill Dust Mites
Dust mites are everywhere! While it seems to be impossible to entirely eradicate dust mites, the following methods will drastically reduce the dust mite
population and their allergenic proteins.
Start with your bed. Dust mites thrive in the warm, moist environment of your bed.
encasings act as a barrier between dust mites and their source of food: your skin. Our exclusive Allergy Armor allergy
relief bedding represents the next generation of dust mite covers for mattresses and pillows. Allergy Armor is made from a microfiber fabric woven so tightly
that neither dust mites nor their allergenic proteins can penetrate the barrier. After the dust mites are cut off from their food source, they will die. Other
components of allergy relief bedding include
hypoallergenic mattresses, pillows, blankets,
comforters, and mattress pads, as well
as box spring covers.
Clean your carpet with a HEPA vacuum. Carpet provides another ideal environment for dust mites. If possible, opt for area rugs instead of
wall-to-wall carpet. Area rugs can be periodically placed outside, where sunlight will kill all the dust mites. However, most people have carpet in at least
part of their home. Use antiallergenic
sprays to denature dust mite allergen in carpet and upholstery, and
use HEPA vacuum cleaners to clean the carpet. Microscopic dust
mite allergen is so small that standard vacuum cleaners simply spew it back into the air, never capturing it. HEPA filtered vacuums, on the other hand, will
trap the dust mite allergen for proper disposal. For small spills and tight spaces, use a
HEPA filtered hand vac.
Clean your air with an air purifier. Air purifiers filter the air and eliminate
various allergens and impurities, including dust mite allergen, mold spores,
pollen, pet dander, odors,
chemical fumes, and more. Window filters
and furnace filters will also help clean the air.
Monitor and control your relative humidity. Dust mites cannot survive when humidity drops below a certain point. Monitor your relative
humidity with a
humidity gauge, and
use a dehumidifier
to keep your relative humidity between 40% and 50%. During
the winter, sometimes the humidity will drop too low, causing sinus problems. If this happens, you can increase humidity with
Use effective laundry methods. Standard laundry methods do not kill all dust mites because the water does not get hot
enough. Use Allersearch Allergen Wash or
de-mite Laundry Additive to ensure the removal of dust mite allergen.
Clean hidden sources of dust. Dust tends to collect in hidden spots. Be sure to vacuum behind furniture and dust objects in high
places. Use special vacuum cleaner attachments to clean the dust from blinds, ceiling fans,
crevices, and other hard-to-reach spots. The Sanitaire Expert Cleaning Wand is perfect
for dusting in those hard-to-reach places, and it outperforms standard dusters because of its dust-attracting electrostatic
High Tech Dust Cloths also utilize an electrostatic charge to make
dusting easy and effective.
Learn More about Dust Mites
Dust Mites FAQ
Facts on Dust Mites
A Closer Look at Dust Mites