Dust allergies are one of the most common types of allergies. They are also the most bothering, mainly because sometimes it’s not easy to get rid of dust.
If ignored these allergies can get intense and cause severe respiratory problems and other skin-related allergies.
According to asthamaandallergies, 20 million Americans have dust allergies and if you are one of them then you must do something about it.
But how to understand if you have a dust allergy and how to reduce the symptoms?
This guide is here to help!
Key Takeaways
- Dust allergy is not a response to the presence of dust itself but to the microorganism that lives in it.
- The best way to remove 100% of triggers from your environment is by using a quality air purifier.
- You should use UV purifier for moldy allergy and HEPA filter for dust allergy.
What is Dust Allergy?
An allergy is always a wrong response to our immunity system. The immunity system is supposed to respond to threats that could cause harm to our organism; for example, the immunity system’s response to the presence of a virus or bacteria it’s a proper response.
When do we have the “wrong” response? When the immunity system activates in the presence of something not harmful and non-threatening.
For example, peanuts are totally harmless to our organisms. But peanut allergy provokes a response of our immunity system to it.
When you have a dust allergy, your immunity system reacts to the presence of dust mites that, despite being particularly ugly, are usually not harmful to our organism.
Dust allergy is not a response to the presence of dust itself but to the microorganism that lives in it.
Sometimes, you can also hear speaking of dust allergies. In this case, we are referring to a group of allergies that are activated by:
- Dust mites
- Cockroaches
- Mold
- Pollen
- Pet hair, fur, or feathers 1
Read: VOCs: What Are They?
Dust Allergy: Symptoms
You may have a dust allergy if you experience one or more of these symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Red, itchy or teary eyes
- Wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath
- Itching
Hear it from Reddit users
Dust allergies: typical symptoms, and self care/prevention?
by u/KoaPlyr615 in Allergies
Effective Treatments For Dust Allergies
Like all allergies, there is no cure for dust allergies. The best thing to do when you have any type of allergy is to remove the trigger.
If you have a peanut allergy, you need to stop eating peanuts and every derivate. If you have dust allergies, you need to remove dust or pollen from your environment.
And yet, removing peanuts from your diet is a lot easier than removing dust from your surroundings.
The only way to remove 100% of triggers from your environment is by using a quality air purifier.
What Are Dust Mites?
Dust Mites are insect-like microscopic pests that live in beds, pillows, mattresses, etc. According to a study, four out of five houses in America have dust mites in their upholsteries, furniture, carpets, etc.
Dust Mites feed on dead human skin cells that are present in dust and air. Although these dust mites do not bite or feed on human blood, but they still create harmful allergens which you should get rid of. 2
How To Get Rid of Dust Mites?
Dust Mites love humid weather and absorb the moisture from humid air, so if you live in a humid area, then you should make sure that the humidity level remains less than 50% in your home.
In general, you should wash your bedding with hot water at least once a week. Also, eliminating drapes and curtains, using furniture having smooth surfaces, and encasing mattresses can help immensely to reduce the number of dust mites in your house.
You should also use air purifiers and vacuums, having good filters to keep your house free of dust and allergens.
Air Purifiers For Dust Allergy
Not every air purifier is effective against dust or pollen particles.
If you have a mold allergy, a UV air purifier could work because it is capable of killing spores, and mold is a spore.
For all other types of dust allergies, you’d need a HEPA air purifier that is capable of removing 99.97% of particles from the air.
The absolute best would be a medical-grade air purifier. Medical graded air purifiers can remove 99.99% of particles from the air.
They usually have a double system, for example, HEPA filters + UV lamps. This type of air purifier would be perfect for anyone who is affected by dust allergies.
Even if you can’t totally remove dust from your life, putting such a powerful air purifier in the room where you sleep, and work can improve the quality of your life and remove or give relief from the symptoms related to the allergy. 3
Conclusion
Dust allergies are annoying and are often accompanied by sneezing and a runny nose, which lasts for 3-7 days.
But if you are exposed to dust more frequently, it might become a lifelong problem. Hence, we advise you to get an air purifier.
FAQ’s
For how long does dust allergy last?
Dust allergy usually lasts for 3-7 days. But if you are around dust, then the allergy may last longer than seven days.
How to know if I am allergic to dust?
People who are allergic to dust have runny noses or frequent sneezes. Some people might also face signs of asthma and may have difficulty in breathing. 4
Can I develop dust allergy suddenly?
One may develop allergies at any age. Usually, the symptoms of allergies appear early in life and get worse as one gets older.
Kylie has been studying air purifiers for the last 20 years and is an expert in the field. She tests and reviews different air purifiers, letting people know they are worth buying. Kylie writes blogs about the latest air purifiers, their features, health benefits, and more. When she’s not writing or spending time with her granddaughter, Kylie can be found testing new air purifiers to see how they perform.
ARTICLE SOURCES
The National Planning Cycles is committed to producing high-quality content that follows industry standards. We do this by using primary sources, such as white papers and government data alongside original reporting from reputable publishers that were appropriate for the accuracy of information while still being unbiased. We have an editorial policy that includes verifiable facts with due credit given where applicable.
- https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/dust-allergies/[↩]
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352173#:~:text=Dust%20mite%20allergy%20is%20an,as%20wheezing%20and%20difficulty%20breathing.[↩]
- https://www.healthline.com/health/air-purifier-for-allergies[↩]
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352173#:~:text=Signs%20of%20dust%20mite%20allergy,as%20wheezing%20and%20difficulty%20breathing.[↩]
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352173#:~:text=Signs%20of%20dust%20mite%20allergy,as%20wheezing%20and%20difficulty%20breathing.[↩]