Desensitization treatment for mite allergy (allergen-specific immunotherapy, AIT) is the only "disease-modifying" treatment for dust mite allergy — especially for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma — rather than just relieving symptoms.

The core principle of desensitization treatment is to repeatedly expose the immune system to gradually increasing doses of standardized dust mite allergen extract, retraining the immune system from a pro-allergic "Th2-skewed" response (IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation) towards a tolerance-inducing "Treg" response (regulatory T cells suppressing the allergic immune response).

There are two forms of treatment: Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) — administered by a doctor in a clinic, involving regular injections of dust mite allergen extract under the skin of the upper arm.

The build-up phase involves 1–2 weekly injections of progressively increasing allergen doses (2–3 months), followed by a maintenance phase of a stable dose every 4–8 weeks (lasting 3–5 years).

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) — the patient self-administers a tablet or drops containing dust mite allergen under the tongue at home, once daily, also continuing for 3–5 years.

The efficacy of the two methods is similar — after 3–5 years of treatment, approximately 70–80% of patients experience significantly reduced rhinitis and asthma symptoms and decreased medication use.

Desensitization treatment has a certain lasting "disease-modifying" effect even after it is stopped.