Her back is in a terrible state and she's also scratching her legs, which are bleeding. It all began in November, when all the old carpets upstairs from the house we moved into were removed, we suspect creating an upheaval of mites. Bacterial infection has already been ruled out, so we want to relieve the lesions on her back by natural methods. Can you suggest anything?
A House dust mites are tiny insects, about a quarter of a millimetre long, that do not live on humans, but near us, feeding on the dead skin cells that we shed naturally all the time. They prefer warm and humid environments and are found in bedding, carpets, soft furnishings, toys and clothing.
They are a common cause of allergic reactions, including asthma, a persistent runny nose and eczema.
But it's usually not the mite itself that causes the problem, but rather the droppings they shed - each mite produces about 20 each day, and they continue to cause allergic symptoms even after the mite has died.
Symptoms can become worse when mites are disturbed, for instance after changing bedding or doing housework, and lifting those old carpets may well have triggered your daughter's skin problem.
Mildly inflamed skin can often be treated by regular applications of moisturiser, but areas of bleeding suggest the skin is very itchy, and she is scratching a lot. This is likely to need a steroid cream or ointments to reduce the inflammation.
I note you prefer natural methods, but I doubt these will be effective and the longer the skin stays so itchy, the more she will scratch, and the more likely it is it will become infected, making the inflammation worse.
As an infection has been ruled out, I'm guessing you have seen your doctor, and a steroid cream has been suggested. Though it is true that strong steroid creams, used for a long period of time, can cause thinning of the skin, this is not an issue with a mild steroid used for a short period of time, which is all your daughter is likely to need.
It is also important for you to clean up as many mites, and their droppings as possible, and the fact her back is so itchy suggests there may be some in her bed. So as well as washing her bedlinen and soft toys at 60C, it may help to cover the mattress with an allergy-proof barrier cover.
If her soft toys can't be washed at a high temperature, put them in a
plastic bag in the freezer for at least 12 hours. Damp wipe all surfaces, including the tops of wardrobes and pelmets, and either wash or vacuum her curtains plus the floor, ideally using a high filtration cleaner.
You can get more information from Allergy UK by calling 01322 619898 or visiting allergyuk.org.
Q I'm 55 and for the past few months have been aware of a small lump in the side of my neck. It's about the size of a grape and doesn't hurt me, but if I turn my head to one side then it's clearly visible. For all I know it could have been there for years, and I'm perfectly well otherwise, but I'm just wondering if I should have it checked out? Or am I being neurotic?
A The most common cause of a lump in the neck is a swollen lymph node. These are found throughout the body, and are part of the immune system, containing white blood cells and antibodies that help defend the body against
infection. The most common reason for swollen glands is an infecti...
A House dust mites are tiny insects, about a quarter of a millimetre long, that do not live on humans, but near us, feeding on the dead skin cells that we shed naturally all the time. They prefer warm and humid environments and are found in bedding, carpets, soft furnishings, toys and clothing.
They are a common cause of allergic reactions, including asthma, a persistent runny nose and eczema.
But it's usually not the mite itself that causes the problem, but rather the droppings they shed - each mite produces about 20 each day, and they continue to cause allergic symptoms even after the mite has died.
Symptoms can become worse when mites are disturbed, for instance after changing bedding or doing housework, and lifting those old carpets may well have triggered your daughter's skin problem.
Mildly inflamed skin can often be treated by regular applications of moisturiser, but areas of bleeding suggest the skin is very itchy, and she is scratching a lot. This is likely to need a steroid cream or ointments to reduce the inflammation.
I note you prefer natural methods, but I doubt these will be effective and the longer the skin stays so itchy, the more she will scratch, and the more likely it is it will become infected, making the inflammation worse.
As an infection has been ruled out, I'm guessing you have seen your doctor, and a steroid cream has been suggested. Though it is true that strong steroid creams, used for a long period of time, can cause thinning of the skin, this is not an issue with a mild steroid used for a short period of time, which is all your daughter is likely to need.
It is also important for you to clean up as many mites, and their droppings as possible, and the fact her back is so itchy suggests there may be some in her bed. So as well as washing her bedlinen and soft toys at 60C, it may help to cover the mattress with an allergy-proof barrier cover.
If her soft toys can't be washed at a high temperature, put them in a
plastic bag in the freezer for at least 12 hours. Damp wipe all surfaces, including the tops of wardrobes and pelmets, and either wash or vacuum her curtains plus the floor, ideally using a high filtration cleaner.
You can get more information from Allergy UK by calling 01322 619898 or visiting allergyuk.org.
Q I'm 55 and for the past few months have been aware of a small lump in the side of my neck. It's about the size of a grape and doesn't hurt me, but if I turn my head to one side then it's clearly visible. For all I know it could have been there for years, and I'm perfectly well otherwise, but I'm just wondering if I should have it checked out? Or am I being neurotic?
A The most common cause of a lump in the neck is a swollen lymph node. These are found throughout the body, and are part of the immune system, containing white blood cells and antibodies that help defend the body against
infection. The most common reason for swollen glands is an infecti...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 18, 2025