Identifying Allergens To lessen reliance on treatment of symptoms we need to use additional levels of knowledge about root causes. In the area of skin problems caused by allergens this requires a greater systematisation of the knowledge we already have. This would help patterns to emerge. Two potent and common allergens are from cats and from dust-mites. The cat allergen is from cat saliva.
Cats lick themselves, the saliva dries and then flakes off as a fine powder.
Saliva contains compounds that break down food, both for digestion and so that the cat can tell whether it's fish or rabbit it is eating, for it is the break down products which give food taste. Cat saliva also helps cats to break down and remove dead surface skin when they groom themselves. Both these attributes contribute to making powder from cat saliva allergenic. Dust-mites feed on flakes of skin and their digestive juices are designed to break down skin. Their excreta is therefore rich in compounds that break down skin.