Dust Allergies

Dust Allergies Overview

Ever get sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes while dusting your door, furniture, or windows?

Cleaning can stir up dust and make almost anyone sneeze, but for people with a dust allergy it’s more than a nuisance. Symptoms often get worse during or right after vacuuming, sweeping and dusting (ACAAI). Dust allergy causes the same kinds of symptoms as pollen or pet allergies, and can also trigger asthma and eczema flares.

Dust mites are tiny creatures that thrive in warm, humid places and die when humidity falls below 50%. In homes they live mainly in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpets (ACAAI).

Dust mites are one of the most common indoor allergens. Because they’re present all year, dust allergy symptoms can occur year-round (ACAAI).

What Causes Dust Allergies?

Often allergies are caused by the triggering of a foreign particle, which our immune system may not accept. These allergens, when inhaled or eaten, get recognized by the system and cause allergic reactions.

Dust mites and their byproducts are the main cause of dust allergy. These microscopic bugs feed mainly on the dead skin people shed every day. Their droppings and body parts are the allergens.

A single piece of dust may contain pieces of dead cockroaches, mold spores, dead skin, and pet dander along with dust mites. Pet dander and cockroaches, both trigger allergies in people with allergy sensitivity when inhaled.

What Are the Symptoms of Dust Allergies?

Dust can make anyone sneeze, but that doesn’t mean you have a dust allergy. People with a dust allergy tend to have symptoms that continue through the year and are worse indoors. Common symptoms include:

• Sneezing
• Red, itchy and watery eyes
• Shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itching
• Dry throat
• Under-eye puffy or discolored
• Sinus problem

How to prevent Symptoms: The best way to prevent symptoms of dust allergy is to refrain from the exposure of dust or dust stimulating regions.

To start with, make sure to treat your bed where most of your time is spent. Millions of dust mites can accumulate in beddings, mattresses, and furniture.

Wear a mask while cleaning, and keep indoor humidity below 50% (ACAAI).

Dust-busting tips for your bedroom: Use mite-proof covers on pillows and mattresses. Remove wall-to-wall carpet and heavy curtains from the bedroom if you can, and keep pets out (ACAAI). Wash bedding weekly in hot water (at least 130°F) and dry it in a hot dryer.

How to Treat Dust Allergies

The best treatment for dust allergy is to reduce exposure. If that isn’t enough, over-the-counter or prescription medicines can help.

Allergy Medicines

Medicines used for nasal allergy symptoms include:

• Antihistamines relieve sneezing, itching, runny nose and hives. Many are inexpensive and sold over the counter as tablets, liquids or nasal sprays. They help less with congestion, and older ones can cause drowsiness (ACAAI).
• Decongestants shrink swollen nasal tissue to make breathing easier. Some allergy tablets combine an antihistamine and a decongestant. Oral decongestants can raise blood pressure, so ask a doctor first if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, and don’t use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3 days (MedlinePlus).
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays reduce inflammation and are among the most effective treatments for allergic rhinitis; many are sold over the counter (MedlinePlus). Inhaled steroids are used for asthma.
• Montelukast is a prescription tablet that blocks leukotrienes, chemicals that tighten the airways and increase mucus. Because of a boxed warning about serious mental health side effects, the FDA advises reserving it for allergic rhinitis patients who can’t use or don’t respond to other treatments (FDA).

Other Dust Allergy Treatments

• Nasal irrigation: rinsing with a saline solution in a squeeze bottle or neti pot can clear mucus and allergens. Use only distilled, sterile or previously boiled and cooled water, and rinse and air-dry the device after each use (FDA).
• Immunotherapy: allergy shots gradually make your immune system less sensitive to dust mite proteins. Shots are given with slowly increasing doses, usually once or twice a week for 3 to 6 months, followed by maintenance shots for 3 to 5 years (Mayo Clinic). A dust mite tablet (Odactra) taken under the tongue is another option for some people.

Conclusion

Dust allergy can be annoying, but reducing exposure and the right treatment can control symptoms for most people. Dust allergy usually can’t be cured with medicines, but immunotherapy can provide lasting relief for some (Mayo Clinic).

---

Written by: Madiha Ather Hashmi (May 15, 2020)

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your symptoms and before starting, stopping, or combining any medicine.

What actually helps

We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

HEPA air purifier & filters

A portable HEPA purifier sized to the room can lower airborne particles such as pollen and dust; it only works if you replace filters on schedule. (EPA: Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home)

See the Levoit Core 300 on Amazon

Saline nasal rinse kit

Rinsing with saline can clear pollen from the nose; use distilled, sterile or boiled-then-cooled water, never plain tap water. (FDA: Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?)

See the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit on Amazon

Dust-mite pillow & mattress covers

Allergists recommend zippered, allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs, plus hot-water washing of bedding. (ACAAI: Dust Allergy)

See Hospitology zippered pillow encasements on Amazon

Dust Allergy FAQs

What causes dust allergy?

Mainly dust mites, plus cockroaches, mold, pollen and pet dander in house dust (ACAAI).

What humidity helps control dust mites?

Keep relative humidity below 50% (ACAAI).

Why do I sneeze more after cleaning?

Vacuuming, sweeping and dusting stir up allergen particles (ACAAI).

Is montelukast a good choice for dust allergy?

The FDA advises reserving it for allergic rhinitis when other treatments don’t work or can’t be used (FDA).

Sources

Looking for more allergy types? Find a full list of other allergy causes here.