A rash is a skin reaction, typically in response to an allergen. Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition where your body does not produce enough lactase enzyme in the small intestine to digest lactose, a natural sugar common in dairy products. As a result, the lactose carries into your digestive system, causing diarrhea, bloating and gas. If you have a rash after consuming dairy, you may have an allergy to milk, not an intolerance.
Milk Allergy Symptoms
Milk allergy manifests as wheezing, rashes, vomiting, digestive problems and hives, or a combination. While lactose intolerance also involves your digestive system, it does not include a total-body reaction and does not appear as a rash. With a milk allergy, your body releases histamines to attack the allergen, typically either casein or whey, or both. This results in a runny nose, labored breathing in some cases, and, in very severe cases, anaphylactic shock. If this is the case, you may have an allergy to cow's milk, as well as the milk of sheep, goats and buffalo as well as some processed foods that use casein or whey.
Digesting Dairy
When you are lactose-intolerant, you can't digest lactose. However, you can take enzyme supplements when you eat dairy to aid digestion. While these supplements, which come in pill or drop form, don't work for everyone, they can make dairy a possibility for some. Since children especially need the calcium and vitamin D present in many dairy products, experiment with the supplement, or try lactose-reduced products to get the nutrients you need to grow healthy bones.
Other Rash Sources
If you don't believe you are allergic to milk, but have rashes after eating dairy, talk to you doctor. Your skin rash may be due to either an entirely different allergic reaction, or a skin condition known as eczema. Typically, eczema appears as a rash that is swollen and reddened. It may also itch and feel uncomfortable.
Milk Allergy Treatment
Milk allergy requires that you avoid the protein to which you are allergic. Since casein and whey are common in processed foods, be diligent in reading labels. However, milk allergy often resolves in children when they reach about the age of 10. In these cases, children who were previously allergic to milk become desensitized to the allergen and can eat milk, casein or whey products without problem. This is not true for all children, however. At the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, pediatric patients with severe eczema were less likely to outgrow their food allergies. Consult your doctor before re-introducing dairy into the diet.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Lactose Intolerance: Definition; February 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Milk Allergy: Causes; August 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Dermatitis: Definition; December 2009
- "Medical News Today"; Children With More Severe Eczema Less Likely To Outgrow Milk, Egg Allergy; March 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Food Allergy; March 2010
