How can I know if I have a dairy allergy?

It's important to know if you have a dairy allergy, since cow's milk products are so commonly consumed. Allergist Clifford Bassett, MD, explains the steps you can take to thoroughly investigate whether or not you have a dairy allergy.

Transcript

00:00

Take a look at your skin. Do you have hives or redness? That may indicate an allergic reaction is occurring. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:11

Cow's milk or dairy allergy is a very important thing to know because it's so commonly consumed. Some of the symptoms can occur right away

00:20

within seconds to minutes, which could be the skin. The skin is an early warning sign. Hives, itchiness, again abdominal symptoms, nausea,

00:28

gas, abdominal pain, respiratory symptoms, even sneezing or nasal congestion can be associated with a food allergy

00:34

to cow's milk. Many of my patients already think they may be sensitive to milk. They're already eliminating cow's milk from their diet.

00:41

Day one, do a body check after having milk. You're having abdominal symptoms, gas, skin symptoms, itchiness.

00:48

Take a look at your skin. Do you have hives or redness? That may indicate an allergic reaction is occurring. Day two, think about hidden sources of milk.

00:56

They may be in cow's milk or other products, such as yogurt, dairy, ice cream, cheese sticks.

01:03

And later on, you may have some symptoms. It could occur within a few minutes. But it can last up to a couple of hours. Day three, hidden sources.

01:10

Be a label detective. Learn how to decode labels. A can of tuna fish may have casein, which is a milk protein.

01:17

Hot dog, sausages, even cosmetics may contain cow's milk protein. Do your homework. When it says "may contain," take it seriously.

01:26

I've had many patients in my practice who had severe reactants to products or foods when it says "may contain," and they plainly ignore it.

01:33

Again, it's about being proactive, educated, and being prepared. Day four, let's put it all together. If you suspect you have a food allergy to cow's milk and cow's

01:42

milk products, get tested. See an allergist for state of the art in-office simple, reliable skin tests, blood tests, and component tests,

01:50

which is a new way to look at risk for potential for cow's milk protein allergy. Again, food allergies are here.

01:56

Do your homework. Have an allergy action plan. One, confirm the diagnosis. Two, educate yourself. Be aware of your environment, and read labels.

02:04

And finally, be prepared in case you do have an allergic reaction. [AUDIO LOGO]