Allergies and allergens

The average British home - centrally heated, carpeted and shared with pets and dust-collecting cuddly toys has become a haven for house dust mites and a hothouse for allergens which can trigger eczema.

Did you know?

• 1 in 3 people are now suffering from an allergy.
• 4 in 10 school children have an allergic condition.
• Allergic disease is growing at the rate of 5% per year.
• In a survey of 6,500 people over 67% reported reacting to chemicals and perfumes.
• Asthma, rhinitis and eczema often caused by house dust mite have increased threefold in the last 20 years.
• There are 28,000 house dust mites in an ounce of dust.
• House dust mite droppings enter the body through the nose, linings of the eyes and linings in the airways of the lungs.
• Sitting on a bed or sofa disturbs the house dust mite dropping which then stay airborne for at least 30 minutes.
• The average bed contains more than 10,000 dust mites and over 2 million droppings. 
• The average pillow doubles in weight in six months due to the droppings of the house dust mite.

      (Source: Allergy UK)

Tips for reducing allergens in the home:

• Barrier covers for your bedding can help prevent house dust mites and their tiny droppings escaping from your pillows, mattresses and duvets. On sale in Boots and most department stores.

• Wash your bedding at least once a week on a hot wash (at least 60°C).
• Put soft toys in the freezer for 24 hours followed by a hot wash to kill off dust mites.
• When you come to replacing your carpets and curtains, wooden or lino flooring and venetian or roller blinds are much easier to clean.
• Similarly, leather, wood, metal or plastic furniture is less likely to capture dust, so it may be worthwhile choosing these materials when replacing your furniture.
• It's also worth taking a look in your bathroom - many chemicals found in cosmetica, bubble baths, soaps and fragrances (or even the detergent you wash your towels and flannels with) can irritate. Look for soap-free or hypo-allergenic brands where possible.
• Invest in a high-filtration vacuum cleaner. Most standard cleaners stir up dust as you clean and can release much of the dust they pick up back into the air.
• Dust with a damp cloth to 'soak up' dust, rather than flick it around.
• Turn down central heating a few degrees - 70F or 21.2C is about right for most people. A hot, humid house is a breeding ground for mould, mildew and dust mites.
• If you think that you're allergic to pets, then sadly, the best thing is not to have a pet in your house. If that's not possible, then try to keep your pet outside or limit them to one room only, preferably one without carpet so their hair and dander can't get pushed deep into the pile. Definitely keep pets out of the bedroom.

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