November 2025  |  ✓  Medically Reviewed by:  Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C

Can you be allergic to dust? Yes, thanks to some tiny eight-legged creatures. Dust mites are the main culprit behind a dust allergy.¹ Dust mite allergy affects 20 million people across the United States.²

We'll take a closer look into why these arachnids can be such a problem in just a bit. For now, let's highlight what they can do to your body.

The most common symptoms of dust allergy include:¹

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth, or throat
• Cough

If you have asthma, you might also experience:¹

• Trouble breathing
• Chest tightness or pain
• Whistling or wheezing sounds when breathing

Up to two-thirds of children with asthma and up to one half of adults who have asthma also suffer from allergies.² Of those with allergic asthma, about 40%-85% of them are allergic to dust mites.² And allergy symptoms caused by dust mites can lead to increased inflammation or can worsen asthma symptoms.

Want to do a deeper dive on your symptoms and help inform any conversations you might have with your healthcare provider? Take our symptom questionnaire now.

Dust mites: the allergens responsible for a common household allergy

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that you can't actually see with the naked eye but are found in the majority of homes – about 84% of households in the U.S., to be specific.² They hang out in soft, fabric-type areas like bedding, pillows, mattresses, stuffed animals, and couches.³

The good news is they don't bite. They feed on skin scales and fungi.³ The not-so-great news: the part of a dust mite that people are sensitized to is their poop.⁴ When dust is stirred up, those fecal particles are inhaled and that's what can cause symptoms in those who are sensitized.⁴

Can dust allergy also affect the skin?

Yes! Sensitization to house dust mites can make atopic dermatitis (eczema) worse.⁵ The non-scientific way to explain it is that if your skin is already compromised with a condition like atopic dermatitis, it can let airborne particles in (like those dust mite poo particles). That can cause an inflammatory reaction that triggers or exacerbates eczema symptoms.⁵

Pancake syndrome: Ingestion of dust mites

As gross as it sounds, it is possible eat dust mites and have a potentially severe reaction (anaphylaxis) if you are allergic to them. Dust mites sometimes make their way into wheat flour, especially in more tropical environments where the temperatures and humidity are high. When that mite-contaminated wheat flour is used to make food (like pancakes), the person eating it can experience a reaction. This is known as oral mite anaphylaxis (OMA) or pancake syndrome.⁶

How to clean the house to improve dust allergy symptoms

So what can you do to reduce the number of dust mites in your home to help reduce your exposure to them? Here are some great tips.²

• Use special covers for mattresses and pillows that are made with fine woven fabric or plastic, which the mites can't penetrate.
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water (130-140°F); bedding also can be frozen overnight to kill the mites.
• Use a HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate air filter). These filters can remove up to 99.7% of particles as small as 0.1 microns.
• Keep indoor humidity at 45% or less.
• Vacuum regularly to help minimize the dust using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Consider removal of carpets, drapes, rugs, etc.
• Use acaricides, a chemical used to kill dust mites.

The importance of specific IgE tests for the diagnosis of dust allergy

How do you know if you have a dust mite allergy? A conversation with your healthcare provider is a great place to start. They'll ask questions about your current symptoms, your past medical history, and your home environment. They might decide a specific IgE blood test is an appropriate next step. If so, they'll order the test and will take a blood sample from you. That sample will be sent to the lab where it will be evaluated for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody produced by the immune system, specific to dust mites. Your healthcare provider will review results and determine next steps.

Learn more about how to get a specific IgE blood test.

 Is there a treatment for dust allergy?

If your specific IgE blood test results indicate a sensitization to dust mites, your healthcare provider may have suggestions to help reduce your symptoms, including:²

• Antihistamines to reduce symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and runny nose.
• Nasal corticosteroids (nasal spray) to reduce swelling in the nose and block allergic reactions.
• Decongestants to relieve stuffiness.
• Allergen immunotherapy, which may help you develop tolerance to dust mite exposure.