Dust Mites On Skin and How To Get Rid Of Them
Do Dust Mites Live on Human Skin?
Contrary to common belief, dust mites do not live on human skin however they will nautrally walk on your skin. Most people cannot feel dust mites walking on their skin however if your ultra senstive and lying still you may well feel the allergic response from their faeces. However, dust mites do not burrow into the skin or feed on live tissue.
Relief from Dust Mites on Skin
The quickest way to get releif from dust mites into have a shower and to have clean bedding / clothing that has not been exposed to dust mites.
Long term you should stop dust mites from living in your home by following a intelligent 6 step guide to getting rid of dust mites click here to learn more
Where are you likely to feel dust mites on skin?
- Bed
- Sofa
- Carpeted rooms
- Humid rooms
- Warm rooms (20-25°C)
- Rooms that have plenty of visable dust
Dust mites thrive in environments where they can feed on dead skin flakes that humans naturally shed. These flakes accumulate in bedding, carpets, furniture, and other soft surfaces.
Where Do Dust Mites Live and the estimated amount
- Mattress - 100,000 to 10 million
- Pillow - 10,000 to 2 million
- Carpets / Rugs - 1,000 to 100,000 per square meter
- Couch / Sofa - 100,000 to 1 million per seat
- Curtains / Drapes - 1,000 to 50,000 per square meter of fabric
- Soft Toys: 1,000 to 10,000 per toy
How to Protect Your Skin from Dust Mite Exposure
While dust mites cannot live on the skin, managing their presence in your environment is key to reducing allergic skin reactions. Click here to find out the 6 top steps to take:
Dust Mite Allergies and Skin Reactions
While dust mites themselves do not live on the skin, their presence can trigger allergic reactions in individuals. The primary allergens come from dust mite faeces and body fragments, which can irritate the skin and respiratory system. People with dust mite allergies may experience:
- Eczema flare-ups: Dust mite allergens are a common trigger for atopic dermatitis (eczema), leading to itchy, inflamed skin.
- Contact irritation: Prolonged exposure to bedding or fabric contaminated with dust mites can cause itching, redness, and discomfort.
Distinguishing Dust Mites from Other Skin Concerns
It is important not to confuse dust mites with other microscopic pests, like scabies mites or demodex mites, which do live on or burrow into human skin. Scabies mites cause severe itching and rashes as they infest the skin, while demodex mites naturally live in hair follicles. Dust mites, however, are not parasitic and have no interest in living on your body.
If you have a dust mite allergy we highly recommend purchasing encasements for your bed as they stop dust mites in your mattress, pillow and duvet from touching you. See our encasements
