Allergy Control Products for Beauty?

So Saturday, I was speaking to a friend about allergies.  Are you surprised?  I’m not because it seems no matter where I go, people want to talk to me about allergies.  It’s all right, it goes with the territory I guess.  In this case, the conversation turned to appearance and the use of allergy control products for beauty.

Anyway, Saturday, instead of talking about my recent cross-country trip, the weather, the economy, or the best recipe for hummus, my friend was talking about dust mite allergy.  His daughter had been recently diagnosed and they were going through the process of cleaning out all the dust catchers and getting dust mite covers on the mattress, box spring, and pillows.

The conversation turned from the obvious benefits of protection from dust mite allergen to those that are most important to the heart of a young lady…..puffy eyes.  Yes, Virginia,  there is a Santa Clause, and dust mite covers can help you in your fight against puffy eyes.  Hard to believe that there are allergy control products for beauty enhancement?

Dust mite covers help with those pesky dark circles under the eyes.  In the allergy biz, those are called “allergic shiners” and are caused by increased blood flow to the sinus area.  When you cut off the exposure to the allergy-causing protein (from the mite feces and body parts) the blood flow to the sinus area returns to normal and the dark circles disappear.  Likewise for the puffy eyes.

Using a denaturing agent and anti-allergen spray like ADMS Spray or washing bedding with De-Mite can also work to reduce those shiners and puffy eyes.

If you have problems with overly dry skin or eczema, it can also be caused by allergies.  It might not be extra lotion you need, but some Allergen Wash!  Most eczema has roots in allergy.

No, I don’t think Avon or Estee Lauder has anything to fear from The Allergy Store. But you might find beauty really does come from the inside out; and when you have your allergies under control, shiners, puffy eyes, and eczema can be a thing of the past.

Til Next Time

How Your Dust Mite Cover Should Fit?

We get lots of questions from people trying to decide what size dust mite cover to buy for their mattresses.  Over the months, I have written lots about the different fabrics, but I don’t think I have ever addressed how the dust mite cover should fit.

How Should It Fit?

There is a misconception that the cover needs to fit tightly.  Actually, the opposite is true.  If you try to put a too-small cover on a too-large mattress you will put stress on the seams and the zipper closure.  Those are the weakest points in your line of defense against dust mites.  You don’t want any strain or stress on those seams or zippers.  So, your dust mite cover should fit loosely and not tight at all.

How Do You Measure the Depth?

Most people know what “size” their mattress is (queen, king, twin, full, etc) but they are not sure of the depth of the mattress.  To measure the depth of your mattress, you need to strip the bed down.  That means removing all the bedding, including the sheets and any mattress pad you might keep on the bed.

Get down at eye level with the mattress (only measure the mattress for depth, do not include the box spring in the depth measurement) and measure from the top seam to the bottom seam.  If you have a pillow-top mattress, take the measurement in several places.

Round Up or Round Down?

Round that measurement up to determine the proper depth mattress cover to purchase.

For example, if your mattress measures 10″ deep, you want the 12″ deep cover.  While you might be able to stretch and tug to get a 9″ cover on that 10″ mattress, chances are you are going to stress the seam or tear out the zipper in your attempt.

While the 12″ cover will give you a little extra fabric, it does not affect the dust mite protection of the zippered mattress cover.  Just take that little bit of extra fabric and tuck it between the mattress and the box spring.  Your fitted sheet will hold it in place.

Properly sized, your dust mite mattress cover will last for years and give you night after night of protection.  So make sure your dust mite cover fits right.

Til Next Time!

Must Have Allergy Control Products

After taking an extended trip, I have come to the conclusion that:

  •  There really is no place like home
  •  There really are some must-have allergy control products.  These are the allergy control products I just can’t do without.
Must-Have Allergy Control Product #1 Allergen Wash

I was fortunate that one of the stops on my multi-state trip was my mother’s home.  I knew I could depend on her to have a bottle of Allergen Wash.  Not only could I wash out all the dust, dirt, and grime but I could get rid of the allergens also.

You might not think of allergens in the laundry, but on this extended road trip, I didn’t get many opportunities to do laundry and I knew that my clothing was collecting pollens because some of it was damp (did I mention that this trip included spending an afternoon hauling the contents of a Budget moving truck up a flight of stairs in 100-degree weather?) it was ripe for molds and dust mites.  It was great to see Mom and it was great to see her washer and dryer and that bottle of Allergen Wash.

Must-Have Allergy Control Product #2 Allergy Bedding

It was also nice to sleep on a bed that was completely protected in zippered dust mite-proof mattress covers and pillow covers.  Of the many places I slept on this trip, only two of them were places where the beds were completely covered.

It makes such a difference in how I feel in the morning when I get up.  Covers = Cheryl which is a bright ray of sunshine.  No Covers = Cheryl that can’t see straight, can’t think straight, and is a growly, crabby bear.  I don’t try to hide it…I know how I am!

Must-Have Allergy Control Product #3 – ADMS Spray

This brings me to the third allergy control product I can’t live without……my bottle of ADMS Spray.

The ADMS Spray is a lifesaver when you are going to be staying where you can’t control your environment.

As I have written before, a quick spray on the air conditioner, bedding, and carpeting and most hotel rooms can have a drastic reduction in the level of allergens waiting to greet you.  I didn’t have a room that gave me problems on the entire trip!

It is certainly good to see the countryside, but it is even better to be home.  In your own bed.  In your own bedroom that has no carpeting.  With your Austin Air HealthMate humming you softly to sleep.

Til Next Time
Cheryl