Dust Allergies

Life with dust allergies -- whether they're yours or a family member's -- comes with a load of questions. For instance, might a dust allergy explain your child's never-ending cold symptoms? Here are some answers to those questions. Find out what you need to know about dust allergies, from causes to treatments.

Why is my house so dusty?

Every home has a few dust bunnies tucked away in a corner somewhere. Even the most pristine estate is unlikely to pass the white glove test. Dust particles quickly and easily creep under the bed or high atop a chandelier. Vigorous cleaning and forced-air heating systems can actually stir up dust and put more of it in the air, causing trouble for anyone with dust allergies. Even just a minute or two in a dusty room can trigger symptoms such as sniffling and sneezing for someone with a dust allergy.

Where does dust come from?

Dust is made up of many different things. What is found in the dust in your home depends on the type of furniture you have, whether or not you have pets, where you live, and other factors.

A single piece of dust can contain flakes of dead skin from humans, pet dander, parts of fabric and lint, bits of food, pieces of dead cockroaches, even living organisms such as bacteria, fungus, mold spores, and teeny tiny critters called dust mites. A scoop of dust weighing as much as a paper clip contains as many as 19,000 dust mites.

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are spider-like creatures that thrive and multiply in warm, moist areas. You can't see the little rascals with your naked eye, but they can cause big problems for you if you are allergic to them. They prefer places where the temperature is at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity reaches 75% to 80%. They can't survive in colder, less humid settings -- they've never been seen in Antarctica and are rarely found in dry climates. In the U.S., dust mite allergy tends to get worse during July and August, when dust mite populations peak because of warmer weather.

Dust mites like to eat dead skin from pets and humans. Since flakes of skin normally fall off humans unnoticed every day, mites aren't likely to starve. An average adult sheds up to 1.5 grams of skin each day -- enough to feed a million dust mites. Flakes of dead skin work their way into carpeting, beds, and furniture, inviting dust mites in for a happy meal. Most dust mites are found inside mattresses, bedding, and upholstered furniture.

What causes dust allergies?

Most people with dust allergies are actually allergic to proteins found in the waste produced by dust mites. Approximately 20 million Americans are allergic to the little bugs. The insects may be the most common cause of year-round allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms, particularly in children.