But they occur all year round, whereas hay fever is seasonal. The symptoms are typically worse at night and in the morning because dust mites tend to live in mattresses, pillows and bedding.
Common dust mite allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and itchy skin at night with the allergy often associated with asthma or eczema. For sufferers, the one place where they are most susceptible is the bed – as this is a favourite haunt of the dust mite.
Yes, allergy symptoms get worse at night. This can happen because laying down increases congestion, you're allergic to things in your bedroom like dust mites, and you're more aware of symptoms when you don't have daytime distractions.
Wash bedding in hot water (at least 120 degrees F) once a week. Reduce clutter, stuffed animals, and other places where dust mites live. If that's not possible, wash stuffed animals weekly in hot water (at least 130 degrees) to kill and wash away dust mites.
You may have heard of dust mites, but you might not know much about them. Dust mites are microscopic bugs. They can live in mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpeting, curtains, bedding, or wherever dust and debris may gather. Many people wonder if dust mites bite and let us put you at ease—they do not bite.
They love to burrow in your fabric and feast on your skin cells. And, for this reason, your bed is the perfect place to make their home. Unlike bed bugs, mites don't pose any significant health risks. However, dust mite proteins can trigger congestion, a run nose, watery eyes, and other allergic reactions.
Dust mites do not bite you or carry diseases, but their presence in your home, or even worse the bed where you sleep each night, can cause severe allergy issues including: Nasal congestion. Coughing or itchy throat. Excessive sneezing.
Dry vacuuming doesn't pick up dust mites. Consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites. You can buy chemicals (ascaricides) that kill dust mites and that you can use on carpeting and furniture.
Dust mites are repulsed by the smell of Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavendar, Peppermint, and Rosemary. Make your own aromatic spray by adding a few drops of one (or more) of those essential oils in a water-filled spray bottle.
Essential oils contain compounds that repel or kill insects, including dust mites. The best essential oils for getting rid of dust mites are clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil. Add 20 drops of oil to four ounces of witch hazel, and spray your mattress, couch, drapes, and other dust mite hangouts.
When a person who is sensitive to the dust mite breathes in these particles, they can cause allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, runny nose, congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Dust mites can also cause asthma symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing.
But sleep experts say snoozing with a fan can cause an increase in allergies and other uncomfortable symptoms. "As a fan moves air around the room, it causes flurries of dust and pollen to make their way into your sinuses," according to Sleep Advisor.
Spray Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Oil
So, once you have cleaned your bedroom, add 2 tablespoons of organic tea tree oil and 2 tablespoons of organic eucalyptus oil into 2 cups of distilled water. Pour into a bottle and spray literally everywhere in your bed and bedroom. This will kill and repel any dust mites.
Dust mites are microscopic insects that live in our pillows, furniture and carpets. They're not the same thing as bed bugs. To reduce your exposure to dust mites, follow these tips. First step, in terms of reducing dust mite exposure is to buy dust mite proof encasements for your pillows, mattress and box spring.
Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites. Most of the mites die during the winter, but the allergen-containing dust is stirred up by heating systems. This often causes the symptoms experienced by affected patients year-round to worsen during the winter.
It's Hypoallergenic
If you have allergies, you may have experienced problems with dust mites while sleeping. Hypoallergenic materials are used to make eucalyptus sheets, which means they won't attract allergens. You'll be able to sleep soundly without being bothered by your allergies if you sleep on sheets like these.
The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
Avoid furniture covered with fabrics. Use dust-proof pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric that keeps out dust and mites. Use furniture made of wood, plastic, leather, or vinyl (including vinyl mattress covers) that you can wipe clean. Remove rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting.
Usually, during the warmer weather, windows are open and fresh air circulates through the house and dilutes the mite allergens. With cooler weather, windows are closed, and the heat comes on, re-circulating air in the house. This is when mite sufferers usually notice worsening of their symptoms.
Anti-Dust Mite Spray
Use a disinfecting spray after dusting and wiping surfaces such as floors, shelves, blinds, skirting boards, and corners, since it not only kills the dust mites but also creates an inhospitable environment for them. You can also use an anti-allergen spray.
If you have a dust mite problem in your home, bedding—sheets, blankets, and bed covers—should be washed at least weekly in hot water (130 to 140 F) to kill the mites.
Special fabrics like silk, organic cotton, and microfiber are your best bet against dust mites, while still remaining breathable enough to keep you cool while you sleep. Making sure you pillow and mattress protectors also seal shut with a zipper is another way to help.
For most people the best thing to reduce dust mites in your pillows, sheets, and bed is to launder your sheets regularly in hot water, switch out your pillows about once a year, and make sure you buy a new mattress every 5 to 10 years from 2 Brothers Mattress.
But, unlike rodent mites, itch mites and chiggers, skin irritation is rarely caused by exposure to dust mites. Although they may “hitchhike” on clothing, dust mites do not live on people. They feed primarily on dander, flakes of dead skin that fall from people and animals.