Getting the best food allergy care you need to stay safe and healthy starts with an accurate diagnosis. However, many people with dairy-related symptoms have never undergone testing with their North Texas allergist. Without professional testing it’s not always easy to differentiate between a milk allergy and a milk intolerance, so let’s look at the main differences between these two common conditions.
How Does a Milk Allergy Differ From Intolerance?
At first glance, a milk allergy and lactose intolerance can look relatively similar (and of course they both indicate trouble with dairy products). However, there’s a difference—a milk allergy is an immune system issue, while lactose intolerance is a digestive problem. Understanding the different physical responses, symptoms and treatment options will help you better manage your condition.
What Is a Milk Allergy?
A milk allergy is an immune system exaggerated reaction to proteins in cow’s milk. After drinking milk (or consuming it as an ingredient in cheese, ice cream and so on), the immune system overreacts to the presence of milk proteins and produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This process triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause allergic symptoms throughout the body. Professional allergy testing is vital for diagnosing food allergies.
What Is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition where the body has difficulty processing lactose, the natural sugar in milk. This condition develops when the small intestine stops producing enough lactase enzyme to break down lactose. While intolerance to milk is often uncomfortable, it does not carry the same life-threatening risks as the most severe milk allergies.
How Do the Symptoms Between Milk Allergy and Intolerance Differ?
The key difference in symptoms between a milk allergy and lactose intolerance is that a milk allergy can affect the skin, respiratory and digestive systems, whereas lactose intolerance only affects digestion.
Unfortunately, a patient with a milk allergy could experience hives, itching, swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and even anaphylaxis in rare cases. In contrast, milk intolerance typically causes bloating, gas and stomach cramps. Onset times also vary, as milk allergy symptoms usually begin very soon after consuming dairy, and lactose intolerance symptoms often take longer to appear. In fact, a slowed or delayed reaction to milk could occur within up to 72 hours after milk ingestion.
How Treatment for Milk Allergy and Intolerance Differ
For milk allergies, a food allergy specialist will develop a personalized allergy treatment plan. This may involve avoiding products containing dairy and carrying an epinephrine auto-injector to address any anaphylactic event. Innovative treatments for milk allergies include food allergy sublingual immunotherapy/food allergy drops (SLIT) or oral immunotherapy (OIT). Both of these options desensitize the immune system to the milk protein that triggers a reaction.
Treatment for lactose intolerance usually involves avoiding dairy, replacing products with lactose-free options and taking lactase enzyme supplements.
Contact Us for Milk Allergy Treatment in North Texas
TexasAllergyMD specializes in food allergy management at our locations in McKinney/Prosper and Southlake. For expert support with milk allergy testing and treatment, speak with our team today. Call (469) 375-1525 or request an appointment now.
