How to Reduce Eczema by Controlling Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms

Have you ever thought you might be suffering from eczema due to dust mite allergy symptoms? Learn all about the dreaded dust mite allergy rash and how dust mites and eczema can be related!

By Stevie Simpson (see bio below)

Eczema can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem. If you experience this issue, it can seriously affect your physical comfort on a daily basis as well as your self-confidence.

At this stage, there is no cure for eczema, which means that it needs to be controlled. And the best way to control this condition is to reduce or eliminate irritants like dust mite allergens. Keep on reading and learn how, with a proper treatment plan, to reduce unpleasant eczema symptoms linked with dust mite exposure.

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a non-contagious condition that causes patches of skin to become red, cracked, inflamed, itchy and rough. It can affect the skin on any part of the body but is particularly common on the face, hands and feet, as well as the insides of the elbows, backs of the knees, groin and on the buttocks.

Eczema affects around 10-20 percent of people in the U.S. There are several different types of eczema. The most common one, known as atopic dermatitis, involves the immune system.

The immune system of people who have atopic dermatitis can be easily triggered into a reaction that causes skin inflammation. The common symptoms include red, dry, itchy, cracking, weeping skin, and even skin pain.

There is no known single cause of eczema, but there are certain triggers that can cause an outbreak. These include:

• Foods such as nuts and dairy.
• Irritants such as soap and detergents.
• Temperature variations.
• Allergens such as pollens and dust mites.

ILW Recommends: What Can Trigger Eczema? 

These are all common triggers. However, one of the least understood and hardest to control is the dust mite allergy.

What are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are tiny bugs that usually live in house dust. They’re actually arthropods, part of the same group as spiders, and are less than a third of a millimeter in length.

Dust mites, which occur naturally, can be found in almost all homes. A key factor that determines whether a house has high levels of dust mites appearance is humidity. This is because they don’t drink water as humans do; dust mites absorb moisture from the air. In low-humidity areas, such as deserts, tiny bugs simply cannot survive.

Dust mite allergens don’t usually stay in the air as pet allergens do. The allergen rather settles into dust or cloth. These allergens stick to items that dead skin cells collect on, such as mattresses, bedding, pillows, curtains, and upholstered furniture, which also serve as nests for them. People are most exposed to dust mite allergens while sleeping.

No matter how clean your house is or what cleaning products you use, you can’t eliminate them from your home.

• Dust mites are typically harmless, but when you’re allergic to them, they can cause such hay fever symptoms as sneezing, blocked nose, itchy eyes, etc. Dust mite allergy symptoms can also manifest into eczema.

How Dust Mites Trigger Eczema

It’s not entirely clear how dust mites and eczema might be related. However, allergies and eczema are very closely connected. Most people who experience eczema also have dust mite allergies that may develop over time.

Still, it isn’t clear if it’s eczema that causes allergies or vice versa. Researchers are still studying the link between those. However, it seems that there’s a connection to a gene called filaggrin, a protein that keeps the skin moist.

• People with eczema typically don’t make enough of this protein, which causes their skin to become dry and itchy. This deficit also may be responsible for other allergy symptoms. It makes the skin more porous, which lets in dust and other allergens.

Do You Have a Dust Mite Allergy Rash?

The best way to determine if you suffer from a dust mite allergy rash is to get professionally tested. These tests are fairly quick and simple and usually involve either skin prick tests or patch allergy testing.

If you find yourself experiencing frequent eczema flare-ups, then getting tested for allergies is one of the most effective ways to start managing your condition. It will allow you to identify exactly what’s causing the reaction rather than guessing, and then you can work on eliminating or reducing your exposure to your allergens.

What are Other Risks of Dust Mites?

Very often, people who are not prone to eczema experience various dust mite allergies. Being allergic or sensitive to dust mite allergens may trigger such conditions as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, sinusitis, or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

People suffer from various symptoms of dust mite allergies, including cough, nasal congestion, sinus inflammation, itchy skin, exhaustion, sneezing, and postnasal drip.

The symptoms usually occur throughout the year and get worse during sleep because of exposure to allergens in mattresses, bedding, and pillows.

How to Control Dust Mite Reactions

If you experience dust mite allergy symptoms or a dust mite allergy rash, there are several things you can do to prevent allergic reactions, improve your health, and cut down on outbreaks.

Among the most effective measures are:

• Using dust mite-proof covers to protect your mattress and pillows. (Learn more about eczema sheets and bedding)
• Replacing carpets with hard floors, if possible
• Replacing fabric curtains with roller blinds
• Adjusting your central air to keep the humidity below 45 percent to discourage dust mite growth. (Using a dehumidifier as an extra measure is also a good solution)
• Vacuuming carpets regularly
• Placing items from open shelves inside cupboards and keeping toys in closets or toy boxes
• Washing your sheets and pillowcases in hot water each week
• Washing vacuum filters regularly and using a low-dust exhaust vacuum cleaner
• Cleaning blinds and curtains regularly

What are Other Ways to Reduce Dust Mite Eczema Symptoms?

Depending on how severe your eczema is, a doctor will provide you with an individual treatment plan to help prevent your condition from worsening. Reducing outbreaks is essential. The following are things you can try at home right away to help manage the dry, itchy part of eczema:

• Avoid your eczema triggers.
• Keep your skin well moisturized. We recommend using Manuka Honey.
• Reduce your bath and shower time to 20 minutes and avoid hot water.
• Avoid laundry detergent with scents and dyes.
• Avoid skincare products with scents and dyes.

What is Immunotherapy for Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms?

If none of the above strategies works for you, it might be time to consider immunotherapy. This is not a typical recommendation to treat eczema directly. However, if you experience dust mite allergy symptoms, such a treatment might help to calm your immune system and reduce eczema outbreaks.

Immunotherapy, also known as desensitization, is a modern cure for allergies and associated eczema. It’s used as a last resort when other treatments have failed and basically works on reducing allergy symptoms by weakening your body’s response to the allergen.

For instance, if you’re experiencing dust mite allergy symptoms, you will be exposed to extremely low amounts of this allergen. After a while, this will allow your body to develop immunity so that dust mites no longer cause an allergic reaction in your body. This will naturally reduce your eczema outbreaks.

Immunotherapy, which usually lasts about three years, is particularly helpful if your reactions are severe or if the allergen is difficult to avoid. House dust mites definitely fall into this category, as they are impossible to fully eliminate from your home environment.

The Bottom Line

There’s no cure for this unpleasant, still extremely common skin condition called eczema. You can manage and control your outbreaks by taking the above measures and with the help of a skin expert.

Not all people with eczema have an allergy to dust mites, but the tiny bugs can be a common trigger causing such hay fever symptoms as sneezing, blocked nose, itchy eyes, a red and scaly rash, etc.

Talk to an expert today if you’re struggling with a dust mite allergy rash. This is the best way to control your condition and keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Read More about Eczema:

Start Here for Eczema Relief Guide

Natural Remedies for Eczema: What Worked For My Son

Our Eczema Trials: Elimination Diet, How You Can Do It Too

Bio: Stevie Simpson is a health blogger living in Sydney, Australia. She’s particularly passionate about treating skin allergies, general skin conditions and cosmetic medicine. She drinks way too much caffeine & loves playing with her pet corgi, Bonnie!