Dust can not only give people a stuffy or runny nose, but can also cause their eyes to tingle or turn red and watery. Dust Allergies additionally make it hard to inhale and may trigger asthma issues such as wheezing, hacking, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Learning how to get rid of dust allergies can be a huge help for allergy sufferers.
A typical trigger for indoor allergies is a dust mite. Dust mites are tiny bugs that are close relatives of the spider. While they can be found all through homes, they typically thrive in moist or humid areas where they can eat the dead skin given off by humans and pets.
Someone with dust mite allergies suffer from many different symptoms, and Indoor allergies can often be exacerbated during vacuuming, cleaning and dusting.
Dust Allergy Symptoms
Below are some of the most common symptoms associated with dust mite allergies.
- Wheezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Red or irritated eyes
- Wheezing, hacking, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath
Dust Allergy Triggers
Below are some of the most common triggers of indoor allergies.
- Dust and Dust mites
- Cockroaches
- Mold
- Pet dander
How to Get Rid of Dust Allergies
If you think that you may be allergic to dust, it is important to visit an allergist. To pinpoint the reason for your allergy symptoms, an allergist will first ask about your work and home situations, family medicinal history, seriousness of side effects or other conceivable triggers. An allergist should also perform a skin test to determine precisely what is causing an allergic reaction in your body.
Skin tests include pricking the skin with concentrates from normal allergens. For example, minor amounts of tree pollen and pet dander will be pricked on your back or arm. The substances that you are allergic to will create a raised welt with redness around it.
If a dust allergy is recognized, your allergist will prescribe either prescription medicine, over the counter medicine, or shots (immunotherapy).
To deal with dust sensitivity, it’s best to stay away from areas in your home that are covered in dust. It is also important to clean your home on a regular basis to prevent the build up of dust or dust mites. Here are some easy ways to diminish indoor dust:
- Clean your home routinely, utilizing a vacuum or a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- Utilize “dust mite proof” cases on your beddings and pads and wash all bed materials routinely with hot water.
- Keep a HEPA air purifier running in your home
- Keep pets outside
- In the event that cockroaches are an issue, utilize insect traps and schedule a pest inspector to inspect your home
- Start utilizing a hygrometer to quantify the humidity in your home. Keep the humidity level below 57%. On the off chance that you live in a sticky or humid area, you may want to use a dehumidifier to reduce the level of humidity in your home. Also, repairing all areas with water damage in your home will help reduce indoor humidity.
Common Dust Allergy Medications
If your attempts to decrease indoor dust allergies don’t provide sufficient alleviation, your allergist may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription drug. Decongestants and antihistamines are the most widely recognized allergy meds. They help to alleviate a sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy nose, runny nose, and scratchy throat.
An allergist will work with you to figure out which prescriptions are best for you and how regularly and the amount of them you should take.
Find the best air purifier for dust.
Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.