A Touch Of Excellence Specializes in Cleaning for the Protestion of Allergy Sufferers.

DUST MITES

The Invisible Enemy

Allergies have been known for a long time, but seem to be on the increase.  They are an unwanted response of the immune system.  They result in inflammation in the eyes and nose (rhinitis), lungs (asthma) and skin (eczema) - and may contribute to migraine, hypo-activity and rheumatoid arthritis.  It is estimated that the allergies affect some 40% of the populaltion at some time and the percentage is on the increase.

Experts believe the increase is linked to environmental factors.  Triggers involve higher indoor humidity and temperatures.  Our homes are becoming ever more modern and home comfort standards are rising.  Good insultation ensures constant room temperature and rather high relative humidity.  But these conditions, which are very pleasant to us, are also excellent prerequisites for the propagation of house dust mites.

For years, people with asthma and other dust related allergy conditions have associated airborne dust with a worsening of their symptoms.  It was only in 1969 that a specific component of house dust was discovered to be the allergic trigger responsible for asthmas, rhinitis or dust allergy attacks.  The house dust mite excrement is one of the most widespread allergen triggers for asthma, eczema and allergic nasal mucous memberane inflammations.  Further research revealed this trigger was a microscopic protein found in the increment of the dust mite.  The substance, now known as the allergen Der pl, is today recognized throughout the world as the major cause of the distressing symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, eczema and other dust sensitive conditions.  Those tiny creatures thrive in their millions in the warmth and humidity of carpets, mattresses, bedding, upholstery and furnishings of even the most scrupulously clean homes.  They are too small to be seen without a microscope, feeding mainly on shedded human skin scales, fungi and bacteria.  House dust mites are found in every household.  Even with regular and thorough house cleaning, dust particles and human skin scales continuously accumulate.

The Breakthrough

Dust Mite Anti-Allergen has been specifically formulated to neutralize and render harmless the allergen Der p1 and Der p2, the proven root cause of more than 90% of all asthma/dust attacks in the home.  Dust Mite Anti-Allergen was developed with the expert assistance of a leading ecologist and internationally recognized authority on house dust mites.

Dust Mite Anti-Allergen is an unique remedial product containing powerful, yet non-toxic, natural ingredients formulated to de-nature dust mite and feline allergen, thereby bringing immediate and positive benefit to people with asthma, rhinitis, eczema or other related conditions.

The Medical Evidence

Studies by Dr. W. F. Green in Australia, originally published in the Lancet, demonstrated that when dust mite droppings are treated with the main active ingredient contained in Dust Mite Anti-Allergen, the allergens are physically changed, rendering them permanently harmless to people who display symptoms on exposure during normal domestic activities such as bed making or vacuum cleaning.  The Dust Mite Anti-Alleregen action, known as denaturing, has also been proven by Professor T.A.E. Platts-Mills, Head of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Virginia.  Further trials by Dr. J. Maberly, a consultant physician and allergy expert at the Airedale Health Authority in Yorkshire, England demonstrated that the use of the active ingredient use in Dust Mite Anti-Allergen produced "significant changes in reactivity" and "markedly improved symptoms" in his asthma patients.

Research work on Dust Mite Anti-Allergen was conducted by dust mite research specialist, Richard Torogood, and supervised by entomologist Ruud Kleinpaste of the M.A.F. at Auckland University in 1992 and 1993.  As a result of this research and further development, DUST MITE ANTI-ALLERGEN was developed.

How Does Dust Mite Anti-Allergen Work?

It is an anti-allergen, aqueous solution containing a powerful active ingredient.  This substance is derived from naturally occurring extracts found in the bark of certain trees and plants.  It works by instantly deactivating the allergen Der p1 and Der p2 in house dust mite and cockroach droppings by de-naturing and substantially reducing the 1gE antibody-binding capacity of this allergen.  As a result they are no longer "recognized" by the bodies immune system and they do not bond with the antibodies sent to destroy them.  This bonding process is the cause of the body's allergic response (the allergy attack).  In effect, an over-reaction of the immune system producing the distress symptoms that, in extreme cases, can pose a threat to life.

 Products in the Household Environment

The home furnishings most likely to be effected are mattresses, carpets, carpet underlay, upholstered fabrics, linen, wall and window treatments.  The occupants of the house are the proven source of food for the dust mite and wherever we spend most time in the home will be the greatest affected area.  The house dust mite lives for approximately 4 months.  In this time, it will produce about 200 times its own body weight in excrement and lay approximately 300 eggs, making the concentration of allergens in areas we most frequent.  These then in turn are the areas which require the most attention with DUST MITE ANTI-ALLERGEN.

As the dust mite excrement dries, breaks away and become airborne, vacuuming with conventional cleaners using conventional filters can do more harm than good by blowing out up to 40% of the dust they collect into the surrounding atmosphere.  This can cause even more distress to the people with asthma or other dust related allergy problems.

Even the simple, everyday act of sitting on a matress or armchair forces air out like a bellow, sending millions of mite droppings (the principle source of the allergen Der p1) into the air.  Absorbed either by inhalation or skin contact, this invisible allergen cloud possess a most serious threat to the dust sensitive members of the family.  This is why they often feel worse after making the bed or suffer nightly discomfort lying in bed or on rising when they throw back the covers.

Mattress and Pillows:  The bedroom is particularly vulnerable as we spend 1/3 of our life in bed and a good deal of other time dressing and preparing for the day.  During the night, both in winter and summer, we perspire and shed skin scales into our sleeping environment collected by the linen, pillows and mattress.  All these areas are ideal breeding grounds for the dust mite, offering warmth, humidity and an endless source of food.

As it is perfectly natural for humans to shed skin scales, the dust mite has an important role to play in everyday life.  The eradication of the dust mite is not the object, because total eradication of mites is impossible; therefore, eliminating the allergen is the initial priority.  The prevention of the high concentration of allergens caused by the dust mite excrement is where Dust Mite Anti-Allergen operates, minimizing this effect in the mattresses and associated household furnishings.

Carpets, Textiles, Floor Coverings and Underlay:  In all areas of accommodation experiencing high foot traffic, spills, humidity and human and animal skin scales, mite droppings will occur.  Dust Mite Anti-Allergen will offer the protection against allergens caused by dust mites.  When the carpets, rugs or upholstery is cleaned using hot water extraction Dust Mite Anti-Allergen will need to be reapplied.  It will also need to be reapplied after 6 months.

Upholstered Furnishings and Textile Wall Coverings:  Furnishings and textile wall and window treatments become contaminated by dust mite droppings, mold spores and skin scales which can eventually become airborne and will travel throughout the house with normal air circulation.  This will cause allergic reaction in people sensitive to dust mite allergens.  Apply Dust Mite Anti-Allergen to these home furnishings to combat these problems.

Bed Linen: These are the first contact between us and our sleeping environment.  High concentration levels of dust mite food are collected here, and subject to suitable climatic conditions, ben linens are the perfect environment for dust mites.  Dust Mite Anti-Allergen can be added to the final rinse cycle when laundering bed linens and will remain effective for up to 4 washes.