Skin Flakes! Are They Harmful?

Dust mites

Most people are under the assumption that allergies are only an outdoor issue. I often have conversations with customers that believe the reason they are suffering with allergies in their home is a result of the outside contaminates making their way in. While this may be very true in the spring, however what they don’t realize is indoor air quality by itself is extremely poor. The E.P.A. announced that “indoor air quality is one of the five top health risks in America.”   Why might you ask? There are several contributing factors but one that I want to point out is dust mites!

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live on dead skin cells from the body of humans and animals. They eat and shed their skin continually without ever leaving a single skin flake. Dust mites are not harmful to humans but their feces cause allergic reaction to humans. There are nine proteins contained in the feces and one of them is proven to cause health problems for humans. Reactions can be various like, eyes itching, asthma issue, snoring, runny nose, mucus drainage, sneezing, wheezing, fever like symptoms and more…

Places where dander or in other words skin cells or scales are absorbed are in mattresses, furniture, carpet and other fibrous material. In these places there is a large amount of microscopic mites dwelling because humans shed around1/3 ounce (10 grams) of dead skin a week. Also pets create even more dander than humans.  Around 100,000 of these little guys can dwell in one square yard of carpet. Your mattress can contain tens of thousands of dust mites. Beds are known to have the most dust mites in the home because humans lay there an average of 8 hours a night. They can range from 100,000 to 10 million. That’s why vacuuming your carpets and mattress as well as professional cleanings are a must every year.

If you are someone who is suffering from poor indoor air quality. I recommend you have a professional carpet cleaner investigate all the areas that may need attention for cleaning. The heat and products used will remove the skin flakes and kill all microscopic pests. Most carpet cleaners clean carpets, beds, drapes and upholstery. When you have these fibers cleaned you will experience a world of difference in your indoor air environment.  I hope this information reaches someone who’s life can change for the better!