Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDust Mites and EczemaCommon LocationsTreatmentCleaning TipsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dust Mites and Eczema
Common Locations
Treatment
Cleaning Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Dust mites, the microscopic creatures that survive off ofdead skin cells, are one of the most common indoor allergens.These tiny pests thrive in warm settings like your mattress, bedding, carpets, and furniture and are found in roughly 4 out of 5 homes in the United States.
For some people, dust mites prompt an allergic reaction. However, dust mites can trigger an itchy rash for those living witheczema(atopic dermatitis).
This article discusses dust mite–triggered eczema, treatment tips, and household cleaning measures.
Penyushkin / Getty Images
Dust Mites May Exacerbate Eczema Flares
Whiledust mitesdon’t causeeczema, these tiny creatures are a common trigger.About one-third of people living with eczema and a dust mite allergy report that their eczema symptoms are exacerbated after dust exposure.
Symptoms of aneczema flare-upafter dust mite contact might first feel like very itchy, dry skin. Soon after, arash usually eruptsthat may be rough, cracked, crusting, red, or discolored with small fluid-filled blisters.
Other Aggravated Symptoms
People with other conditions likeasthmamight also experience more intense symptoms likewheezing, trouble breathing, orchest pain.
Emergency Eczema SymptomsEczema can be serious when the skin becomes infected, increasing the risk for a skin infection known ascellulitis.Seek emergency medical attention if you notice symptoms such as:Hot or swollen skinFever, chillsNausea or vomitingPain that worsens or doesn’t go awayBlisteringNumbness
Emergency Eczema Symptoms
Eczema can be serious when the skin becomes infected, increasing the risk for a skin infection known ascellulitis.Seek emergency medical attention if you notice symptoms such as:Hot or swollen skinFever, chillsNausea or vomitingPain that worsens or doesn’t go awayBlisteringNumbness
Eczema can be serious when the skin becomes infected, increasing the risk for a skin infection known ascellulitis.Seek emergency medical attention if you notice symptoms such as:
Common Locations of Dust Mites
Experts estimate that dust mites are present in most households in the United States.Dust mites thrive in environments warmer than 70 degrees F and have a humidity higher than 75%. They’re usually found in locations such as:
Unlike other airborne allergens, dust mites settle into fabrics and make their nests there.
Treating Eczema and Allergy Symptoms
Eczema can’t be cured, but there are treatments to help control it. This can include a combination of home skin care and prescribed treatment options, including:
Dust allergy treatmentis aimed at relieving symptoms. This can include OTC or prescribed medications such as:
Dust-Clearing Tips to Reduce Exposure
In addition to treating the symptoms that might come with a dust mite eczema outbreak, there are steps you can take to control some (but not all) exposure at home.
Consider the following tips to help reduce dust mites in your environment:
Using at least three dust mite–reduction measures at home is recommended to target the problem from all angles. This might include removing carpets, using allergen covers, and investing in a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
As you’re implementing these measures, keep in mind that some dust mite eczema or allergy symptoms might temporarily worsen before they get better. That’s because the process of vacuuming, sweeping, or dusting can stir up the dust mite particles in the air and lead to easy allergen inhalation.
Summary
Dust mites are microscopic pests that live off dead skin cells and thrive in warm home environments like bedding, carpets, and furniture. In addition to causing allergic respiratory symptoms, dust mites can also trigger eczema outbreaks in some people. To prevent an itchy rash from forming, experts recommend taking thorough cleaning steps to help reduce household dust mites and following an eczema treatment plan to relieve any symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Exposure to dust mites is, unfortunately, inevitable for most households. If you have a family member or roommate who has eczema and/or a dust mite allergy, it’s a good idea to look at how you can limit the mites' presence in your environment. But for those who aren’t particularly sensitive to the pesky creatures, experts say there’s probably no need to drive yourself crazy with dust mite removal tactics. Check with a healthcare provider if you have questions about dust mites and eczema.
Learn MoreWhat 4 Common Skin Rashes Look Like
Dust particles, especially when they contain particles of pollen, mold, fabric fibers, or detergents, can affect your skin.Exposure to a variety of indoor pollution particles seems to intensify skin aging, moisture levels, and inflammation, but experts are still studying the specific mechanisms.
Dust mites are too small for us to see. Most people rely on physical symptoms—like sneezing, congestion, coughing, and itchy skin—to assume the presence of dust mites. These signs may be more noticeable at nighttime during longer periods of exposure to pillows and bedding.
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Dust allergies.American Lung Association.Dust mites.Banerjee S, Resch Y, Chen KW, et al.Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite-allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2015 Jan;135(1):102-109. doi:10.1038/jid.2014.271Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.Kutlu O, Metin A.Evaluation of skin prick test results in patients with atopic dermatitis.East J Med. 2020 Sept;25(4):5780585. doi:10.5505/ejm.2020.50490Kim J, Lee S, Woo SY, et al.The indoor level of house dust mite allergen is associated with severity of atopic dermatitis in children.J Korean Med Sci. 2013 Jan;28(1):74-9. doi:10.3346/jkms.2013.28.1.74Nankervis H, Pynn EV, Boyle RJ, Rushton L, Williams HC, Hewson DM, Platts-Mills T.House dust mite reduction and avoidance measures for treating eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 19;1(1):CD008426. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008426.pub2Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.National Eczema Association.Cellulitis.Biagtan M, Viswanathan R, Bush RK.Immunotherapy for house dust mite sensitivity: Where are the knowledge gaps?.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Dec;14(12):482. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0482-0American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.Wilson JM, Platts-Mills TAE.Home environmental interventions for house dust mite.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.003American Academy of Dermatology.How can I find indoor eczema triggers?.Portnoy J, Miller JD, Williams PB, et al.Environmental assessment and exposure control of dust mites: a practice parameter.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;111(6):465-507. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2013.09.018Szefler SJ, Bonilla FA, Akdis CA, Sampson H.Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2015.Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al.2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: A report from the national asthma education and prevention program coordinating committee expert panel working group.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;146(6):1217-1270. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.003Allergy & Asthma Network.What is a dust mite allergy?.MedlinePlus.Allergies, asthma, and dust.Araviiskaia E, Berardesca E, Bieber T, Gontijo G, Sanchez Viera M, Marrot L, Chuberre B, Dreno B.The impact of airborne pollution on skin.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Aug;33(8):1496-1505. doi:10.1111/jdv.15583
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Dust allergies.American Lung Association.Dust mites.Banerjee S, Resch Y, Chen KW, et al.Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite-allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2015 Jan;135(1):102-109. doi:10.1038/jid.2014.271Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.Kutlu O, Metin A.Evaluation of skin prick test results in patients with atopic dermatitis.East J Med. 2020 Sept;25(4):5780585. doi:10.5505/ejm.2020.50490Kim J, Lee S, Woo SY, et al.The indoor level of house dust mite allergen is associated with severity of atopic dermatitis in children.J Korean Med Sci. 2013 Jan;28(1):74-9. doi:10.3346/jkms.2013.28.1.74Nankervis H, Pynn EV, Boyle RJ, Rushton L, Williams HC, Hewson DM, Platts-Mills T.House dust mite reduction and avoidance measures for treating eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 19;1(1):CD008426. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008426.pub2Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.National Eczema Association.Cellulitis.Biagtan M, Viswanathan R, Bush RK.Immunotherapy for house dust mite sensitivity: Where are the knowledge gaps?.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Dec;14(12):482. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0482-0American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.Wilson JM, Platts-Mills TAE.Home environmental interventions for house dust mite.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.003American Academy of Dermatology.How can I find indoor eczema triggers?.Portnoy J, Miller JD, Williams PB, et al.Environmental assessment and exposure control of dust mites: a practice parameter.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;111(6):465-507. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2013.09.018Szefler SJ, Bonilla FA, Akdis CA, Sampson H.Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2015.Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al.2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: A report from the national asthma education and prevention program coordinating committee expert panel working group.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;146(6):1217-1270. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.003Allergy & Asthma Network.What is a dust mite allergy?.MedlinePlus.Allergies, asthma, and dust.Araviiskaia E, Berardesca E, Bieber T, Gontijo G, Sanchez Viera M, Marrot L, Chuberre B, Dreno B.The impact of airborne pollution on skin.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Aug;33(8):1496-1505. doi:10.1111/jdv.15583
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Dust allergies.American Lung Association.Dust mites.Banerjee S, Resch Y, Chen KW, et al.Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite-allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2015 Jan;135(1):102-109. doi:10.1038/jid.2014.271Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.Kutlu O, Metin A.Evaluation of skin prick test results in patients with atopic dermatitis.East J Med. 2020 Sept;25(4):5780585. doi:10.5505/ejm.2020.50490Kim J, Lee S, Woo SY, et al.The indoor level of house dust mite allergen is associated with severity of atopic dermatitis in children.J Korean Med Sci. 2013 Jan;28(1):74-9. doi:10.3346/jkms.2013.28.1.74Nankervis H, Pynn EV, Boyle RJ, Rushton L, Williams HC, Hewson DM, Platts-Mills T.House dust mite reduction and avoidance measures for treating eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 19;1(1):CD008426. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008426.pub2Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.National Eczema Association.Cellulitis.Biagtan M, Viswanathan R, Bush RK.Immunotherapy for house dust mite sensitivity: Where are the knowledge gaps?.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Dec;14(12):482. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0482-0American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.Wilson JM, Platts-Mills TAE.Home environmental interventions for house dust mite.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.003American Academy of Dermatology.How can I find indoor eczema triggers?.Portnoy J, Miller JD, Williams PB, et al.Environmental assessment and exposure control of dust mites: a practice parameter.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;111(6):465-507. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2013.09.018Szefler SJ, Bonilla FA, Akdis CA, Sampson H.Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2015.Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al.2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: A report from the national asthma education and prevention program coordinating committee expert panel working group.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;146(6):1217-1270. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.003Allergy & Asthma Network.What is a dust mite allergy?.MedlinePlus.Allergies, asthma, and dust.Araviiskaia E, Berardesca E, Bieber T, Gontijo G, Sanchez Viera M, Marrot L, Chuberre B, Dreno B.The impact of airborne pollution on skin.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Aug;33(8):1496-1505. doi:10.1111/jdv.15583
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Dust allergies.
American Lung Association.Dust mites.
Banerjee S, Resch Y, Chen KW, et al.Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite-allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2015 Jan;135(1):102-109. doi:10.1038/jid.2014.271
Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.
Kutlu O, Metin A.Evaluation of skin prick test results in patients with atopic dermatitis.East J Med. 2020 Sept;25(4):5780585. doi:10.5505/ejm.2020.50490
Kim J, Lee S, Woo SY, et al.The indoor level of house dust mite allergen is associated with severity of atopic dermatitis in children.J Korean Med Sci. 2013 Jan;28(1):74-9. doi:10.3346/jkms.2013.28.1.74
Nankervis H, Pynn EV, Boyle RJ, Rushton L, Williams HC, Hewson DM, Platts-Mills T.House dust mite reduction and avoidance measures for treating eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 19;1(1):CD008426. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008426.pub2
Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.
National Eczema Association.Cellulitis.
Biagtan M, Viswanathan R, Bush RK.Immunotherapy for house dust mite sensitivity: Where are the knowledge gaps?.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Dec;14(12):482. doi:10.1007/s11882-014-0482-0
American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.
MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.
Wilson JM, Platts-Mills TAE.Home environmental interventions for house dust mite.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(1):1-7. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.003
American Academy of Dermatology.How can I find indoor eczema triggers?.
Portnoy J, Miller JD, Williams PB, et al.Environmental assessment and exposure control of dust mites: a practice parameter.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;111(6):465-507. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2013.09.018
Szefler SJ, Bonilla FA, Akdis CA, Sampson H.Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2015.
Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al.2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: A report from the national asthma education and prevention program coordinating committee expert panel working group.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;146(6):1217-1270. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.003
Allergy & Asthma Network.What is a dust mite allergy?.
MedlinePlus.Allergies, asthma, and dust.
Araviiskaia E, Berardesca E, Bieber T, Gontijo G, Sanchez Viera M, Marrot L, Chuberre B, Dreno B.The impact of airborne pollution on skin.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Aug;33(8):1496-1505. doi:10.1111/jdv.15583
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