Dust Mite Allergies: The Unseen Battle That's Harder to Win

Just Diagnosed with Dust Mite Allergy?

by Denise Love

I. Introduction

You finally figured out what's been making you sniffle, sneeze, and wheeze — but now comes the hard part—treating it. You have just found out that you are allergic to one of the hardest allergens to treat.  Dust Mites!

Dust mite allergy is among the most common indoor allergens, especially among people newly diagnosed with allergies. If this is your first time dealing with an allergy, dust mites can feel like an invisible, unbeatable enemy because, as you find out, dust mites are everywhere. However, understanding this and why they are so persistent is the first step in managing it.

II. Meet the Mites: What You're Allergic To

Dust mites are microscopic creatures about 0.4mm in length.  You can't see them with the naked eye.  If you were to look under a microscope, you would see tiny creatures with eight legs that resemble spiders.  It is interesting to know that dust mites are, in fact, related to spiders.   Click on the link here to see the mites in action!

But it's not the mites themselves that you are allergic to; it's their droppings.  That's right! After feasting on your dead skin cells,  dust mites are pooping in your bed, on your furniture, and pretty much everywhere people or pets are living.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the average person sheds 1.5 grams of skin cells a day, enough to feed one million dust mites. Their fecal particles are about the size of a pollen grain, and they defecate about 20 pellets daily.   The thought of little tiny spider-like creatures pooping in your bed may stir up feelings of yuck or disgust in some people, but having dust mites does not mean you are a dirty person. Dust mites are everywhere, even in clean homes.  

III. What Happens To You When You Inhale These Allergens?

Symptoms like a stuffy nose, red, itchy eyes, coughing, and fatigue are common symptoms of any allergy, and they sometimes feel like they will never go away.

In rare cases, symptoms can become so severe that they even go so far as to trigger shortness of breath, asthma symptoms, or anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening emergency. This type of reaction to dust mites is rare; however, it is typically a result of an unusual circumstance, such as ingesting contaminated flour that the dust mites have settled into, as one case report in the Journal of Tropical Biomedicine in 2020.  

What happens in your body when you inhale dust mites? The immune system mistakenly identifies the dust mite or another harmless substance as a threat. The first time the body encounters the allergen, it produces specific antibodies called IgE. An antibody like IgE is like a tiny "guard dog" made by your body's defense system. When your body thinks something harmless (like pollen, pet dander, or dust mites) is dangerous, it makes these special tags and sticks them to specific cells, like mast cells and basophils, that are ready to react. The next time you come across that same thing, the tags recognize it and set off an alarm, causing your body to react with sneezing, itching, swelling, or worse. In simple terms, IgE is like a mistaken security system or a rogue guard dog that can't tell "friend from foe" and keeps going off over something that's not a real threat.

IV. Why a Dust Mite Allergy Is So Hard to Treat

The primary way to reduce allergy attacks is to avoid the trigger. But how can you, if they are everywhere in your house? It's just not the same as getting rid of the cat or staying indoors when you are allergic to pollen.  

So, what are you supposed to do? If this is your first experience with an allergy, it might be confusing.   If the dust mites are everywhere in your house, how do you get rid of them?  In all reality, you can't get rid of them all.   But you can take measures to reduce them.  

Regular cleaning, like normal vacuuming or laundry, doesn't kill these little buggers. Dust Mites burrow deep into fabrics, making it difficult to get to them.  Laundry should be washed and dried in the highest heat settings possible.  You should wash bed linens at least weekly and consider purchasing an allergen-proof protective cover for mattresses and pillows that prevents dust mites from getting into them.   Dust mites thrive in a warm and humid environment, so invest in a dehumidifier to lower the humidity in your home to less than 30%.  Getting an air cleaner with a HEPA filter is recommended to help clean the air from dust particles. 

In addition to those home methods, your allergist may prescribe some medications to treat your symptoms. These include oral medications such as antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, or leukotriene nasal sprays, all of which can help. Still, they don't stop the exposure and may not control all the symptoms.   

For some people, physicians will do allergy testing to determine if their reaction is severe enough to be prescribed allergy shots. Allergy shots can work, but it takes considerable time to be effective, usually over months or years.  Many people can become frustrated and give up too soon.   Committing to the process and following through will give you the best results.  

V. What You Can Do Now

Adapting to any new lifestyle to improve one's health can overwhelm many people. Here is a recap of what is within your control and what you can do now.    

Quick wins: Wash your bedding weekly in hot water, and use allergen-proof covers on pillows and mattresses.

Home hacks: Use a dehumidifier to lower the humidity in your home, clean the air with HEPA air filters, and reduce clutter around your home.

Long-term: Talk to your allergist about treatment options, and be patient. Managing dust mites is a lifestyle shift, not a one-time fix.

VI. Conclusion

In summary,  Dust Mite Allergies are a challenging but manageable condition that can frustrate sufferers.  Understanding what you are against is the first hurdle in managing these pesky little critters that cause your allergy symptoms.  Managing and treating symptoms takes a long-term commitment to the person diagnosed with the condition. Support from family and others living in the household is necessary for the best results.  For more information, tips, and tricks on learning to live with a dust mite allergy or managing any other allergy you might have, click here.

____________

References:

Aggarwal P, Senthilkumaran S. Dust Mite Allergy. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560718/?utm_

Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America (2022, August 8). Dust Mite Allergy. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://aafa.org/allergies/types-of-allergies/insect-allergy/dust-mite-allergy/print/

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (2025, January 1). Patient Support Organizations. Find an Allergist, Find Relief. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://acaai.org/resources/patient-support-organizations/

Cleveland Clinic (2022, August 3). Dust Mite Allergy. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17712-dust-mite-allergy?utm

Rangkakulnuwat, P., Sanit, S., & Lao-Araya, M. (2020). Anaphylaxis after ingestion of dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae)-contaminated food: A case report. Tropical biomedicine, 37(2), 318–323.

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board