Milk allergy

Milk allergy, or milk protein allergy, is an overreaction of the body to proteins present in cow’s milk, mainly casein and beta-lactoglobulin. It usually occurs in infants and babies and can heal itself in the first two years of life. Adults can also suffer from this allergy.

In them the allergy occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 and is more common in women than in men. The symptoms in children are mainly skin rashes and itching, as well as gastrointestinal problems. In adults, several symptoms usually occur, especially complaints in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and skin. As with all allergies, milk allergy can also cause anaphylactic shock in rare cases. Those affected can usually only avoid dairy products to improve their situation.

Milk intolerance or lactose intolerance

Milk intolerance or lactose intolerance is an intolerance to the lactose lactose, which is also contained in milk. It is caused by the fact that the body does not have enough of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down milk sugar and ensures that the body can absorb it. Without this enzyme, the milk sugar can therefore no longer be broken down and absorbed.

Those affected mainly have gastrointestinal complaints. Here, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain or even constipation are particularly common. Headaches and other symptoms may also occur less frequently. Although lactose intolerance cannot be treated, those affected can take the enzyme lactase in tablet form, for example, before taking dairy products to relieve the symptoms.

Treatment of the rash with milk

So far there is no curative therapy for either milk allergy or milk intolerance. The treatment of the symptoms, as well as the skin rash, consists merely of avoiding foods containing milk. Those affected must completely change their diet and avoid milk, yogurt, butter, quark, cream, cheese and similar products.It is important to make sure that you continue to consume other important ingredients of dairy products, such as calcium.

Calcium tablets, for example, can help. In addition, it is important, especially for children, to limit the milkless diet to 6-8 months, since children often start to tolerate milk again after a certain time. In the case of milk intolerance (lactose intolerance) there is also the possibility of taking lactase tablets before eating foods containing milk or lactose (milk sugar).

Although this is not a therapy, it is at least one way to eat the food anyway. If the rash is particularly bad, it can be treated symptomatically with creams or ointments, even cortisone ointment. Further treatment options can be found under: Household remedies against skin rash