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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. A doctor can recognise dust mite allergy from your symptoms and prescribe nasal sprays and antihistamines; allergy tests and immunotherapy are arranged through a specialist.
- What causes it: proteins in the droppings of house dust mites, tiny creatures that live in bedding, carpets and soft furnishings in every home.
- Typical signs: sneezing, a runny, blocked or itchy nose, red, watery eyes and a cough, all year round, often worse in bed or after housework.
- What helps most: a daily steroid nasal spray and a non-drowsy antihistamine; home measures help only when several are done properly, such as allergen-proof covers and washing bedding at 60°C.
- Emergency: call 112 for a severe asthma attack that your reliever inhaler is not helping, or difficulty breathing.
Do not book a video appointment if you are having a severe asthma attack and your reliever inhaler is not helping, you are struggling to breathe, or your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat dust mite allergy?
Yes, usually. Dust mite allergy is recognised from the pattern of your symptoms: year-round, worse in bed, after changing the bedding or after housework. A doctor can go through that by video, recommend or prescribe a steroid or combination nasal spray and a non-drowsy antihistamine, and check your asthma or eczema. Allergy tests to confirm it, and immunotherapy for severe allergy, are arranged through a specialist.
How an online consultation helps with dust mite allergy
- The trigger confirmed: Whether dust mites, pets, mould or pollen explain your symptoms, from when and where they are worst.
- Treatment that works: A daily steroid spray used the right way, with a non-drowsy antihistamine.
- Effort spent well: Which home measures are worth doing, and which cost money for little gain.
- Asthma and eczema checked: Dust mites can make both worse, so they are looked at together.
What the doctor checks in an online consultation for dust mite allergy
The doctor asks about the pattern of your symptoms and your home, because together they usually point to the trigger. The doctor asks about:
- Your symptoms: sneezing, a runny, blocked or itchy nose, itchy throat, watery eyes, a cough, and tiredness.
- The pattern: whether they last all year, and whether they are worse in bed, on waking, after changing the bedding or after housework.
- Your home: damp, carpets, soft furnishings, pets, and how old the building is.
- Asthma and eczema: wheezing, a cough at night, breathlessness, and eczema that is getting worse.
- What you have tried: sprays, tablets and home measures, and how long you used them.
What are dust mites?
House dust mites are tiny, eight-legged relatives of spiders, about a quarter of a millimetre long. They live in bedding, mattresses, pillows, carpets, curtains and soft furnishings, feed on the dead skin cells people shed, and thrive in warm, humid conditions. They are found in every home, however clean, and it is not possible to get rid of them completely.
The allergy is not to the mites themselves but to proteins in their droppings and dead bodies. Each mite produces about 20 droppings a day, and these go on causing symptoms after the mite has died.
Can you see dust mites?
No. At about a quarter of a millimetre long, they are too small to see with the naked eye.
Do dust mites bite?
No. Dust mites cannot bite and do not live on people. If you wake with itchy bites, something else is biting: see bed bug bites and mite bites.
Are dust mites harmful?
Not to most people. In people who are allergic, they can cause year-round allergic rhinitis and trigger or worsen asthma and eczema.
What are the symptoms of dust mite allergy?
Sneezing, a runny, blocked or itchy nose, an itchy throat or mouth, mucus dripping down the back of the throat, a cough, and red or watery eyes, often all year round. Asthma or eczema can get worse too.
Because the symptoms are there most of the time, many people do not realise they are reacting to dust mites. Symptoms are often worse:
- in bed, or on waking
- after changing the bedding or doing housework
- in old or damp houses
How do I know if I have a dust mite allergy?
Year-round symptoms that are worse in bed and after cleaning point to it. A skin prick test or a blood test can confirm it, usually arranged when the symptoms are severe or the cause is unclear. See allergy testing.
What are the symptoms of a serious dust allergy?
Wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness or a cough at night, which mean that asthma may be involved, and need a doctor. A severe asthma attack that your reliever inhaler is not helping is an emergency.
How do you get rid of dust mites?
You cannot get rid of them completely, but you can reduce them: wash bedding weekly at 60°C or above, use allergen-proof covers on the mattress, duvet and pillows, keep indoor humidity low, and vacuum with a high-filtration vacuum. Several measures done properly work better than one or two.
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| Measure | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Bed covers | Breathable, allergen-proof covers that fully enclose the mattress, duvet and every pillow |
| Hot washing | Sheets and other bedding without covers weekly at 60°C or above; lower temperatures rinse the allergen away, but the mites survive |
| Tumble drying | On the hottest setting, for at least 30 minutes |
| Soft toys | Wash them like bedding, or put them in a sealed bag in the freezer for at least 12 hours every month, then wash |
| Floors | Hard floors rather than bedroom carpets where possible; vacuum with a HEPA or similar filter, and steam-clean carpets that stay |
| Surfaces | Damp-wipe surfaces weekly, use light, washable curtains, and cut down on soft furnishings |
| Humidity | Ventilate with trickle vents, open windows and extractor fans; a dehumidifier can keep humidity between 30% and 50% |
What kills dust mites?
Washing at 60°C or above, a hot tumble dryer, freezing soft toys for at least 12 hours, and high-temperature steam cleaning. Sprays that kill mites, called acaricides, exist, but use them with care if you have breathing problems, and never on pillows, soft toys or carpets where children play.
Do these measures actually work?
Be realistic. They lower the allergen but never remove it, and doing one or two of them may make no difference. For asthma, a review of 55 trials with 3,121 people found that neither chemical nor physical measures, such as mattress covers, improved asthma. For a blocked, runny nose, some people notice a real improvement when several measures are done properly, and the only way to know is to try.
How is dust mite allergy treated?
With a daily steroid nasal spray, a non-drowsy antihistamine, salt water rinses, and, for severe allergy that medicines do not control, immunotherapy through a specialist.
- Steroid nasal sprays: the most effective single treatment for a blocked nose. They start to work 6 to 8 hours after the first dose but can take up to 2 weeks to reach their full effect, so use them every day.
- Non-drowsy antihistamines: such as cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine, for sneezing, itching and watery eyes.
- Combination sprays: a steroid and an antihistamine in one spray, when one treatment is not enough.
- Salt water rinses: wash allergen out of the nose, and can reduce how much medicine you need.
Can a dust allergy be cured permanently?
Immunotherapy is the only treatment that can change the course of the allergy. It is offered for dust mite allergy that responds poorly to medicines, as daily tablets or drops under the tongue or as injections, supervised by an allergy specialist. Tablets or drops usually start to help after about 6 months, and the treatment lasts about 3 years.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. The doctor may prescribe a steroid nasal spray, a combination spray, or an antihistamine, and check your asthma treatment. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Doing one or two home measures and changing nothing else. Drowsy antihistamines, and decongestant sprays used for more than 5 days.
Which dust mite allergy treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on your symptoms, your home and whether you have asthma or eczema. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sneezing and a runny nose most mornings | Non-drowsy antihistamine and home measures | Yes | Not usually needed |
| A blocked nose all year | A daily steroid nasal spray, used the right way | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Still uncontrolled on a steroid spray | A combination spray and a review of the technique | Yes | Specialist care if still uncontrolled |
| Wheezing or a cough at night | An asthma review | Yes | If breathing is difficult: urgent care |
| Severe symptoms despite the best medicines | Referral for allergy tests and immunotherapy | Partly | Allergy clinic |
A blocked, runny nose that never goes away? A doctor can find the trigger and the treatment that works in one consultation.
See available times →Dust mites, asthma and eczema
Dust mites can trigger or worsen asthma and eczema as well as the nose. Rhinitis, allergic or not, is a strong risk factor for developing asthma, and treating the nose well helps the chest. Damp homes make things worse: moisture encourages dust mites and mould, and damp and mould are linked to rhinitis and asthma. See asthma and eczema.
Special situations
At work and in the car
Mites live in office soft furnishings and car seats and vents too. Good ventilation and regular cleaning help.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine: loratadine is usually recommended if you need an antihistamine in pregnancy.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When dust mite allergy is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: recognising dust mite allergy from your symptoms, nasal sprays and antihistamines, advice on the home measures worth doing, asthma and eczema checks, and referral for tests or immunotherapy.
In-person care: skin prick and blood tests, immunotherapy at a specialist clinic, and severe asthma.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a severe asthma attack that your reliever inhaler is not helping
- difficulty breathing, or skin, lips or tongue turning blue, grey or pale
- sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue
Get medical advice the same day for:
- asthma symptoms that are getting worse
- wheezing, breathlessness or chest tightness that is new
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your symptoms: say when they are worst, what your home is like, and what you have tried.
- Leave with a plan: what to use and how, which home measures to do first, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s a dust mite allergy? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Allergic Rhinitis can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about dust mite allergy
What are dust mites?
Dust mites are tiny, eight-legged relatives of spiders, about a quarter of a millimetre long, that live in bedding, carpets and soft furnishings and feed on shed skin cells. They are in every home, however clean.
What causes a dust mite allergy?
Dust mite allergy is caused by the immune system reacting to proteins in the droppings and bodies of house dust mites, which are breathed in with household dust. Anyone can develop it, but it is more likely if allergies, asthma or eczema run in your family, and symptoms are worse in warm, humid homes with carpets, heavy curtains and old mattresses, where mites thrive. It is not a sign of a dirty home: dust mites live in every house, however clean.
How do you get rid of dust mites?
You cannot remove them completely, but you can reduce them: allergen-proof bed covers, washing bedding weekly at 60°C or above, low indoor humidity and a high-filtration vacuum. Several measures together work better than one.
What can I do at home about dust mite allergy?
Focus on the bedroom, where you spend a third of your life: use allergen-proof covers on the mattress, duvet and pillows, wash bedding every week at 60°C, and keep the room cool and aired; replace carpets with hard floors if you can, vacuum with a HEPA filter and damp-dust; keep soft toys and clutter off the bed. Several measures done properly cut the allergen load; one on its own rarely changes dust mite allergy symptoms, so keep taking the nasal spray.
Do dust mites bite?
No. Dust mites cannot bite and do not live on people. If you wake with itchy bites, something else is biting, such as bed bugs or fleas.
Can you see dust mites?
No. At about a quarter of a millimetre long, dust mites are too small to see with the naked eye, and the specks you can see in a sunbeam are dust, not mites. A mattress can hold millions of them, feeding on the skin cells you shed, and it is their droppings, not the mites themselves, that cause dust mite allergy.
What kills dust mites?
Washing at 60°C or above, a hot tumble dryer, freezing soft toys for at least 12 hours, and high-temperature steam cleaning. Washing at lower temperatures removes the allergen for a while, but the mites survive.
How do I know if I have a dust mite allergy?
Dust mite allergy shows as year-round sneezing and a blocked or runny nose that are worse in bed and after cleaning point to it. A skin prick or blood test can confirm it.
What are the symptoms of a dust mite allergy?
Dust mite allergy causes sneezing, a runny, blocked or itchy nose, an itchy throat, watery eyes and a cough, often all year round. It can also worsen asthma and eczema.
Do mattress covers help a dust mite allergy?
They lower the allergen, but on their own they may make no difference: for asthma, a review of 55 trials found no benefit. For the nose, several measures done properly help some people.
Can a dust allergy be cured permanently?
Medicines control it but do not cure it. Immunotherapy, as tablets under the tongue or injections for about 3 years, is the only treatment that can change the course of the allergy.
Does dust mite allergy go away?
Dust mite allergy is usually long-term, because the mites are in every home and the allergy itself rarely disappears, though symptoms can ease with age and with a less humid home. Most people control it well with a daily steroid nasal spray and an antihistamine, and immunotherapy, tablets taken under the tongue for about 3 years, can reduce symptoms for years afterwards and is an option when sprays are not enough.
Are dust mites harmful?
Not to most people: dust mites do not bite, carry disease or live on the body. In people who are allergic, the proteins in their droppings cause year-round rhinitis, itchy eyes and a cough, and can trigger or worsen asthma and eczema, so dust mite allergy is worth treating even though the mites themselves are harmless.
Is it dust mite allergy or hay fever?
Dust mite allergy and hay fever cause the same sneezing, blocked or runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, so the pattern tells them apart. Dust mite allergy runs all year round and is worse in bed, on waking and after cleaning, because the mites live in bedding and house dust; hay fever comes and goes with the pollen season. Many people have both, and an allergy test settles which allergens are to blame.
Can an online doctor treat dust mite allergy?
Yes, usually. A doctor can recognise dust mite allergy from the pattern of year-round symptoms that are worse in bed and after cleaning, prescribe a steroid nasal spray and a non-drowsy antihistamine, show you how to use the spray, and tell you which home measures are worth the effort. Skin prick or blood tests and immunotherapy are arranged through a specialist.
- House dust mite allergy, Allergy UK, factsheet, published 6 July 2021.
- Dust mite allergy, Cleveland Clinic (US), updated 13 March 2026.
- House dust mite control measures for asthma, Gøtzsche PC, Johansen HK. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008.
- BSACI guideline for the diagnosis and management of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis (revised edition 2017), Scadding GK, et al. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2017.
- Allergic rhinitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 8 January 2026.
- Allergies, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 5 March 2026.
- Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home, UK Government guidance, updated 1 April 2026.
- Antihistamines, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 16 May 2023.
- Asthma attacks, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 7 April 2025.
- Rhinitis and hayfever, ENT UK, published 15 August 2023.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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