hi ceiling,
I also suffer from the same thing and I also supect it has to do with
dust mites, which is why i chose to research this question. Firstly,
some background information on dust mites:
Dust mites as you probably know are invisible microscopic creatures
that live in pillows, mattresses, blankets, carpets, and other soft
materials. They are often thought of as insects, but are actually
invisible arachnids, relatives of spiders and ticks barely visible to
the naked eye. They thrive in warm, humid conditions and live off the
dead skins scales which we shed every day. They love bedding because
there they can burrow into the fabric and espape from light - they do
not actually live on people, but rather near them. Live mites
themselves are not inhaled; it is instead the produced waste, feces
and body fragments of dead dust mites, which cause allergy symptoms
like skin irritation, itchy eyes and runny nose.
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Here are some ways you can eliminate these creatures, decrease
allergic symptoms and reduce medication intake:
1. Start by encasing pillows, mattresses, and box springs in
anti-allergen encasings to cut off their food source and prevent mite
allergens from becoming airborne and being inhaled.
2. Wash all bedding in hot water every two weeks. This will kill live
mites and wash out accumulated allergens. Keep in mind you do not need
to forego your luxurious sleep environment. Find bedding materials
that can withstand the rigors of frequent hot water washings.
3. Use HEPA air cleaners to remove airborne allergen particles like
animal dander, mold spores and pollen.
4. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter that entraps allergens and prevents
them from blowing out through the exhaust.
5. Avoid upholstered furniture; leather and wood are better
alternatives.
6. Remove carpeting in the bedroom if possible. If you cannot remove
the carpeting, use a dry dust mite carpet cleaner to denature dust
mite allergen.
7. Wash and dry-clean clothes frequently and keep clothing in a closet
with the door shut.
8. Clean drawers, closets, and surfaces with an electrostatic cloth to
pick up dust rather than move it around.
9. Monitor and reduce humidity by using air conditioning and/or
dehumidification units. Mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity
but cannot live under 50% humidity.
http://www.achooallergy.com/index.asp?pageid=1003
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Here are some dust mite facts and figures:
- dust mites have been around for 300 million years so complete
eradication and extinction is unlikely
- depending on its age, your mattress may contain between one and ten
million dust mites.
- a female dust mite lays 60 eggs and each mite lives 80 days during
which time it produces roughly 1,000 allergy-provoking waste
particles.
- dust mite numbers appear to peak in July and August and allergens
persist at high levels through December. And 80 percent of people with
allergies and asthma test positive for dust mites in allergy skin
testing.
- there are approximately 40,000 dust mites in an ounce of household
dust
- dead skin falls off our bodies at a rate of about 50 million or so
per day
- each dust mite produces about 20 fecal pellets per day - these are
so small they can actually linger in the air for about eight hours
- a combination of dust mites, both dead and alive, and their fecal
material can make up one tenth of the weight of a 6-year-old pillow
- approximately 20% of the population may be sensitive to mites in one
way or another. The other 80% wonder what all the fuss is about!
- mites can live at 64% relative humidity (RH). The critical cut off
for mite growth is below 50% RH
- house dust mites don't bite - they cause allergy from the activity
of enzmyes in their droppings
- dust mites have sticky feet that cling to surfaces and cannot be
vacuumed up - regular washing will not get rid of them either
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To address your question there does not seem to any topical treatment
like a skin cream available for dust mites , for the simple reason
that dust mites do not actually live on the body. The biting sensation
you experience is likely to be an allergic reaction to waste, feces
and body fragments of dead dust mites. It may not necesarily be the
house mite variey - you could be demonstrating a cross-reactivity to
another kind of mite. A good allergist will be able to help you
identify the allergy you have. "With dust mites, you try to do
environmental control first," says David Bernstein, M.D., an allergist
with the University of Cincinnati's division of immunology in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Bernstein and other allergists recommend allergy
shots for those who have strong reactions to dust mite particles and
who truly wish to undergo years of regular doctor's office visits for
the shots. Allergists determine whether someone is allergic to the
mites by two methods: listening to patients describe the situations in
which they react to the "disturbing of mite particles" -- changing
bedding, vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, sleeping -- and by doing a skin
test to search for a specific reaction to the dust mite allergen."The
skin test will confirm whether the patient has an allergy to dust
mites, which are a very common cause for allergies."
http://12.42.224.153/healthyliving/familyhome/oct02familyhomemonstermites.htm
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I came across a site which talks about using eucalyptus oil to control
allergic reactions:
"...in one of the most interesting breakthroughs of late in
controlling allergic reactions caused by dust mites was a study done
at the University of Sydney in Australia utilizing eucalyptus oil when
washing wool, sheets or linens. The study indicated that wool washed
with a mixture of detergent and eucalyptus oil actually eliminated up
to 95% of the Dust Mites in wool. The unique thing is that they were
able to do this at a lower temperature, thus preserving the fabric.
....Here is a recipe for using O'Brien's World Famous Oil of
Eucalyptus in the wash. ....When you strip the bedding off the
mattress, just spray a couple of sprays on a towel and wipe down the
mattress. Then place all the bedding in the washing machine and fill
the machine with water. Mix three parts liquid detergent and one part
O'Brien's World Famous Oil of Eucalyptus and pour into the washing
machine. Let it soak for 30 minutes then wash as usual. Do this on a
regular basis and you will feel the difference. *Please note that once
you have made up the mixture of 1 to 3: then stir one tablespoon in a
glass of water and stir. If the water stays cloudy for 10 minutes you
a have a good mixture."
http://www.allnaturalpainrelief.com/dust_mites.html
O'Brien's World Famous Oil of Eucalyptus
http://www.allnaturalpainrelief.com/products.html#obriens
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related sites:
Q & A site on dust mites
http://www.housedustmite.org/questions.asp
Info on sprays, special bedding, vaccuum cleaners etc
http://www.achooallergy.com
Information on skin test
http://www.helioshealth.com/allergy/al_05_04.html
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kewords used:
itching "dust mites"
"relieves itching" "dust mites"
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I hope this information has proved helpful - I certainly learned a lot
from this exercise! If you need any part of this clarified, please
feel free to ask before rating the answer.
Good luck! |
