Why does dust make you sneeze

Dust is a year-round allergy. Dust allergies are caused by a tiny bug called a dust mite that lives in the dust. Dust mites feed on dead skin cells sprinkled throughout your home. Nice image, right? According to Healthline. If you have asthma, the symptoms may be more severe. Sometimes allergies can imitate symptoms similar to a virus, but there are a few differences to consider. They typically last for about 3 to 7 days. The difference is the length of time for symptoms to dissipate.

That could be forever if you did nothing about it. Here at the ENT Institute, we offer same-day allergy tests that get you results in minutes. Click the button below to see a list of our providers.

Click the button below to see a list of our locations. Pollen is a common component of household dust and may be the true cause of a dust allergy. Pets can cause problems for allergic patients in several ways. Their dander skin flakes , saliva and urine can cause an allergic reaction, especially when combined with household dust.

In households with birds, feathers and bird droppings can also become embedded in household dust and cause problems for people who are allergic to them. If you think you may have an allergy to any of the components of house dust, see an allergist. To pinpoint the cause of your symptoms, the allergist will ask detailed questions about your work and home environments, family medical history, frequency and severity of symptoms and exposure to pets and other possible triggers.

Often an allergist will need to conduct a skin test to determine exactly what is triggering an allergic reaction. Skin tests involve using a small, sterile probe to prick the skin with extracts from common allergens, such as tree pollen and pet dander, and observing the reaction. A positive reaction a raised welt with redness around it may indicate that you are allergic to that substance.

Occasionally, your allergist may order a blood test and a skin test to confirm an allergy. After a dust allergy is identified, your allergist will recommend one or more of the following treatments:. Here are some simple steps to reduce exposure to indoor dust:. An allergist will work with you to determine which medications are best for you and how often and how much of them you should take.

The dust in your home may contain pet hair and dander , mold or pollen spores, and dust mite or cockroach body parts and droppings, all of which are common allergens. These allergens can cause an allergic reaction when you inhale or come into contact with them. Dust mites are tiny creatures that frequently make their home in places like furniture, carpets, and bedding.

They are too small to be seen without a microscope or magnifying glass. They have eight legs and are not true insects, but relatives of spiders. Dust mites feed on the flakes of skin shed by humans and animals every day. Some common dust mite allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, irritated eyes, scratchy throat, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. These same symptoms can be caused by a variety of other allergens as well, so consult your allergist for testing.

However, you can take steps to minimize your exposure to dust mite allergens by keeping your home as dust-free as possible. Vacuuming and dusting are not enough to remove dust mites, because these creatures can live deep inside your upholstery, mattresses, carpets, etc. You can cover mattresses, pillows, and upholstered furniture with zippered dust-proof covers — the material of these covers is designed with pores that are too small for dust mites to pass through.

Replace carpeting with hard flooring and avoid plush rugs, fabric draperies, and anything else that cannot easily be washed regularly. Use HEPA filters to trap dust mites and other allergens. Change the filters every three months to ensure they remain effective. On this page.

Overview Home is supposed to be a comforting oasis, but for people with dust allergies the home can trigger uncomfortable symptoms. Find expert care with an Allergist. Find an Allergist. Dust Allergy Symptoms Sneezing Runny or stuffy nose Red, itchy or teary eyes Wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath Itching Dust Allergy Triggers Dust mites Cockroaches Mold Pollen Pet hair, fur or feathers Dust Mite Allergy Management and Treatment Make changes to your home and to your routine: Remove wall-to-wall carpets, curtains, and drapes particularly in the bedroom.

Keep pets out of the bedroom, and preferably out of the house. Minimize household humidity. Cockroaches Cockroaches live in all types of buildings and neighborhoods. Mold Mold is a fungus that makes spores that float in the air.

Pollen Pollen comes from trees, grasses, flowers and weeds. Are you one of the approximately 20 million people in the United States who suffers from dust allergy symptoms? If so, it may be worse than you think. The sneezing, sniffling, and congestion are bad enough, but consider this: You may be reacting to microscopic pests known as dust mites who share your bed and living quarters.

Dust is one of the most common indoor allergens, and a dust allergy can make life miserable. Read on to learn how to know if you have a dust allergy and discover what you can do about it. This includes dead skin flakes, carpet fibers, and other materials. This includes dirt tracked into the house or airborne particles. Dust travels around the world on jet streams. They are sometimes called rivers of wind. North Africa is the biggest source of atmospheric dust in the world.

Here are other well-known dust-producing regions:. Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to a typically harmless foreign substance. Triggers can include anything from pollen to specific foods to insect venom. Usually, your immune system creates antibodies to protect you from unwanted invaders, such as pathogens. Then when your body subsequently encounters the antibodies, it overreacts and releases chemicals such as histamine, which cause familiar allergy symptoms.

Household dust consists of a combination of many elements, including parts of insects, mold spores, dander from pets, dust mites, and more. A variety of these sources can trigger dust allergies, including:. These pests are common. In the most recent American Housing Survey, Census Bureau workers documented evidence of cockroach activity in Both cats and dogs can be dust allergy triggers due to allergens found in the dander dead skin cells they shed. Dander particles are tiny and can remain in the air for a long time and collect on upholstered furniture and clothing.

Pet saliva can also be a problem because it sticks to rugs, bedding, and furniture, and it can circulate in the air after it dries. Urine and sweat can be triggers too. As with cats and dogs, rodents and rabbits can harbor allergens in their dander, hair, saliva, and urine.

Dust from the sawdust or litter in their cages can contribute to allergies as well. Even pet birds can be possible triggers.

Their feces can also contain allergens. You may think of pollen as an outdoor issue when it comes to allergies. But it can invade the home through open windows, and you may bring it inside on your shoes, hair, or clothing. Once pollen is indoors, it floats around like other dust particles and can cause allergy symptoms. Grasses and ragweed tend to be the most common sources of pollen. But you may experience a reaction to various weed pollens, such as sagebrush and tumbleweed, and trees, such as cedar, birch, and oak.

Mold can grow nearly anywhere under the right conditions, and it can grow in household dust particles. Only some molds cause allergies , and different people can be allergic to different types. These microscopic bugs are perhaps the most common cause of dust allergies.

More precisely, the protein in their feces causes allergies. Dust mites dine on human skin flakes and live on bedding, mattresses, carpet, upholstered furniture, and curtains. These tiny pests can cause an oversized amount of misery.

Each dust mite can create up to times its weight in waste, which can cause allergy symptoms in susceptible individuals.