Indoor Allergies

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What is an indoor allergy? 

Indoor allergy is a term used to describe a range of allergens that can be found in home or indoor environments. The most common indoor allergens are House Dust Mites, Mould and Pet.  All homes, irrespective of how well kept they are, can be hosts to these allergens which are often invisible to the eye. That’s why for those living with an indoor allergy, there is often a weighty and time intensive burden that comes with an excessive and frequent cleaning regime to try to keep these allergens at bay.  

How can an indoor allergy affect someone?   

Living with an indoor allergy can have a significant toll on someone’s health. For many people, their home is a safe haven. Imagine undertaking your daily tasks – eating, sleeping and getting ready for the day ahead, every day – in an environment which triggers symptoms that may be so severe, that they affect your skin, nose, eyes and airways so that breathing is affected? This is what it can be like for people with an indoor allergy that is poorly managed year-round.  

Understanding how to manage an indoor allergy is a crucial step in helping you create a ‘wellcome home’ for you and those affected.

Social behaviour has changed and today people spend on average 90% of their time indoors. Our indoor environments are often poorly ventilated causing humidity to rise and creating ideal conditions for mould and house dust mites to thrive in our soft furnishings and bedding. We are a nation of pet lovers, with our pets often living indoor which can also add to allergens in the indoor environment. – Amena Warner, Head of Clinical Services.

Find out more about indoor allergies and help to spread awareness of these conditions.

Mould Allergy

Well insulated and airtight homes can impactindoor air quality and ventilation. Coupled with inadequate heating, air humidity in homes can increase and encourage mould growth. This can result in asthma whilst also aggravating other allergic conditions, such as allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema.

Find out more about mould allergy

Pet Allergy

It is possible to develop an allergy to an animal or pet at any time, even where that animal has previously been a pet, or where a pet does not live in your home. It is commonly thought that animal hair is responsible for the allergic symptoms, however it is mainly an animal’s dander and saliva that is the cause.  

Find out more about pet allergy

House Dust Mite Allergy

House Dust Mites are one of the most common triggers for people living with allergic asthma. They can be found in every home, and a sensitivity to house dust mites can also aggravate atopic eczema and cross-react with how the body responds to certain foods.

Find out more about house dust mite allergy

Did you know...

  • 90%

    Modern life in developed countries results in people spending up to 90% of life indoors

  • #2

    Pets are the #2 cause of allergy in the home

  • 63%

    of people living a mould allergy play down their allergy to others

Related Resources

Asthma and Respiratory Allergies

Asthma and Respiratory Allergies

Asthma is a common and long term lung condition that requires ongoing management. Asthma causes sensitivity to the airways, which can become inflamed and narrow on exposure to certain triggers, leading to difficulty in breathing.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, often referred to as desensitisation, is a unique treatment for allergic diseases. It is a well-established treatment reserved for certain severe allergies such as when someone has had a serious allergic reaction to wasp or bee venom or severe allergic rhinitis that has not been previously controlled by any of the anti-allergy medication tried.

House Dust Mite Management Podcast

House Dust Mite Management Podcast

Amena Warner, Head of Clinical at Allergy UK, discusses allergen reduction methods in household cleaning and why it’s important with our guest Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality

Symptoms of allergy may be exacerbated by poor indoor air quality. For people living with allergy, the main concerns are the impact of poor ventilation and high humidity on house dust mites and mould growth, increased airborne contaminants caused by products used around the home (such as for DIY, building, furnishing and cleaning) and allergens from animals and plants in the home.

The Allergy House

The Allergy House

Welcome to the Allergy House. The house provides an interactive walk through experience for you to explore the home of an atopic family. Throughout your walk through, you can find useful tips on how to manage allergy hotspots in the home and you will also come across signposts to useful services and resources provided by Allergy UK.

Parent Pathways

Parent Pathways

Parent Pathways has been created to provide support to both parents, children and adolescents through this challenging time. It provides information and resources to help your child gain more independence around their allergies.

Approved Products

Approved Products

Allergic disease can affect anyone, at any age. It can be a life-changing and, in some cases, a life-threatening condition. As the leading national charity dedicated to supporting those with allergy, we provide advice and information, offering practical solutions to help manage allergic conditions in everyday life.

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