Cow’s milk allergy – Better Health Channel

About cow’s milk allergy

An allergy to cow’s milk and related dairy products affects one in 50 in babies and is different to lactose intolerance. Very few adults are allergic to cow’s milk. People who are allergic to cow’s milk can also be allergic to milk from other animals such as goats, sheep and buffalo.

Symptoms of milk allergy vary and range from mild reactions to a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Some people experience symptoms immediately, but in others, the symptoms can take time to develop.

If you think you, or someone in your care, have a cow’s milk allergy, visit your doctor for a diagnosis. To manage a cow’s milk allergy, all food containing milk must be avoided (under strict medical supervision).

Exclusion and reintroduction of cow’s milk and other dairy foods should only be undertaken with advice from a medical specialist (and in many cases, a dietitian), particularly in cases of anaphylaxis. If long-term exclusion is required, an alternative source of calcium and protein is needed, to ensure adequate nutrition and growth.

Do not change your child’s diet without consulting a doctor or your child could suffer from nutritional deficiencies.

Food allergies can be life threatening. If you, or someone in your care, have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Do not stand or walk. Administer adrenaline (epinephrine) via injector (EpiPen® or Anapen®), if available.

Causes of cow’s milk allergy

Milk allergy is most commonly caused by an allergy to cow’s milk, although some people are allergic to milk from other animals such as goats, sheep and buffalo.

In all allergies, the immune system reacts to triggers, also known as allergens. Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen, causing inflammatory reactions and the release of chemicals, including histamine, which cause allergic symptoms.

In the case of milk, the triggers are milk proteins including whey and casein. You or your child may be allergic to either one of these proteins, or both.

More researchExternal Link is needed into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of food allergy.

Some reactions to milk are not caused by allergies

Some people can have a physical reaction to milk that is not due to an allergy. If you lack an enzyme called lactase, which breaks down the milk sugar lactose, you can experience symptoms that seem similar to an allergy (diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and gas). This is called lactose intolerance and is different from milk allergy, because it does not involve your immune system reacting to a trigger.

Some people also experience excess thick mucus in their throat after eating or drinking dairy products, but this is not caused by an allergy. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises that this mucus production is not a health risk.

Symptoms of cow’s milk allergy

Symptoms of a cow’s milk allergy can appear within minutes or several days of consuming cow’s milk or dairy products. The severity of the symptoms will depend on the person and the amount of cow’s milk they consume.

Symptoms that can appear within minutes of having a small amount of milk include:

• raised red bumps of skin – hives (urticaria)
• itchy, red, weeping or crusty rash of the skin – dermatitis or eczema
• swelling of the face
• wheeze or persistent cough
• vomiting
• diarrhoea.

If your child is prone to a severe allergic reaction to milk, these symptoms can also appear very rapidly.

Symptoms that can appear within hours include:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• rashes or eczema.

Symptoms that can appear within days include:

• eczema
• diarrhoea
• asthma.

Severe allergic reaction – anaphylaxis

Cow’s milk is one of the most common foods to cause severe allergic reactions. Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is life threatening.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:

• difficult or noisy breathing
• swelling of the tongue
• swelling or tightness of the throat
• difficulty talking or hoarse voice
• wheeze or persistent cough
• persistent dizziness or collapse
• paleness and floppiness in young children

If you, or someone your care, have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

• Do not stand or walk.
• Administer adrenaline (epinephrine) via injector (EpiPen® or Anapen®), if available.
• Further adrenaline may be given if there is no response after 5 minutes.
• Give adrenaline first, then asthma reliever puffer, if required.

Keep a record of your symptoms

Keep a diary that describes your symptoms or your child’s symptoms and when and where they occur. Your diary could include information about whether the symptoms occur:

• inside your home, outside or both
• for a short time or longer
• at night, during the day or when you wake up
• after you have had a particular food or drink
• after you have taken a particular medication, either prescription or over the counter from a pharmacy or supermarket
• after you have taken a herbal medicine.

Diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy

If you or your child have allergic symptoms, visit your family doctor who will ask some questions about your reactions. You can also discuss your record of your symptoms. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

If your symptoms appear rapidly after eating or drinking milk or dairy products, the allergy may be easier to diagnose, whereas symptoms that take longer to appear make diagnosis more difficult.

Allergists can test for allergies using a number of methods depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy, the allergist may:

• do a skin prick test
• do a blood test
• ask you to temporarily avoid all milk or products containing milk (elimination diet), then follow up with the introduction of milk back into your diet (food challenge) under strict medical supervision.

A number of methods claim to test for allergies but have not been medically or scientifically provenExternal Link. They can be costly and could lead to dangerous avoidance of certain foods. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) recommends that you do not use certain methods to have potential allergies tested, including:

• cytotoxic food testing
• electrodermal testing
• hair analysis
• iridology
• kinesiology
• pulse testing
• reflexology
• Vega testing.

Always speak with your doctor if you are thinking of using a complementary medicine or therapy for allergies.

Treatment for cow’s milk allergy

If you or your child have been diagnosed with milk allergy, treatment involves total avoidance of milk or products containing milk. This can be difficult to achieve.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises that children who are allergic to cow’s milk are often allergic to goat’s milk, and so substitution with a milk of animal origin may not be possible.

To avoid milk and milk products, read food labels and avoid foods that contain milk or milk products such as:

• butter
• buttermilk
• casein and caseinate
• cheese
• chocolate
• cow’s or goat’s milk – including ‘A2 milk’
• cream
• crème fraiche
• ghee
• ice cream
• margarines that contain milk products
• milk powder
• nougat
• whey
• yoghurt.

ASCIA has more information about dietary avoidance of cow’s milk for food allergyExternal Link.

Eliminate milk and milk products from your baby or young child’s diet only under strict medical supervision. Your doctor will need to advise on replacement sources of calcium and protein, which are especially important nutrients for children. Replacement formulas for babies also needs to be carefully supervised. For example, some children with cow’s milk allergy will not be able to tolerate soy milk products.

Emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), carry an adrenaline injector such as an EpiPen® or Anapen®, an Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Action Plan for AnaphylaxisExternal Link and a means of calling for medical assistance, such as a mobile telephone.

Emergency responses for a severe allergic reactionExternal Link are:

• Lay the person flat – do not allow them to stand or walk.
• Administer adrenaline with an injector into the outer mid-thigh.
• Always dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance in a medical emergency.
• Further doses of adrenaline may be given if there is no response after 5 minutes.
• Give adrenaline first, then asthma reliever puffer, if required.

If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) make sure you:

• Have an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis.
• Carry an adrenaline injector (such as an EpiPen® or Anapen®) to treat a severe allergic reaction.
• Consider wearing medical identification jewellery – this increases the likelihood that adrenaline will be administered in an emergency.
• Avoid medication (where possible) that may increase the severity of allergic reaction or complicate its treatment such as beta blockers.
• Avoid the food which causes your allergic reaction.
• Tell food staff about your allergy when eating out.
• Seek medical advice from a doctor or clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

Adrenaline injectors are also available over the counter from a pharmacy.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• Emergency department of your nearest hospital
• Your GP (doctor)
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• St John Ambulance AustraliaExternal Link Tel. 1300 360 455
• Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASICA)External Link
  • Cow’s milk allergyExternal Link
  • Locate a specialistExternal Link
• Allergy and Anaphylaxis AustraliaExternal Link

Cow’s milk allergy – Better Health Channel

About cow’s milk allergy

An allergy to cow’s milk and related dairy products affects one in 50 in babies and is different to lactose intolerance. Very few adults are allergic to cow’s milk. People who are allergic to cow’s milk can also be allergic to milk from other animals such as goats, sheep and buffalo.

Symptoms of milk allergy vary and range from mild reactions to a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Some people experience symptoms immediately, but in others, the symptoms can take time to develop.

If you think you, or someone in your care, have a cow’s milk allergy, visit your doctor for a diagnosis. To manage a cow’s milk allergy, all food containing milk must be avoided (under strict medical supervision).

Exclusion and reintroduction of cow’s milk and other dairy foods should only be undertaken with advice from a medical specialist (and in many cases, a dietitian), particularly in cases of anaphylaxis. If long-term exclusion is required, an alternative source of calcium and protein is needed, to ensure adequate nutrition and growth.

Do not change your child’s diet without consulting a doctor or your child could suffer from nutritional deficiencies.

Food allergies can be life threatening. If you, or someone in your care, have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Do not stand or walk. Administer adrenaline (epinephrine) via injector (EpiPen® or Anapen®), if available.

Causes of cow’s milk allergy

Milk allergy is most commonly caused by an allergy to cow’s milk, although some people are allergic to milk from other animals such as goats, sheep and buffalo.

In all allergies, the immune system reacts to triggers, also known as allergens. Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen, causing inflammatory reactions and the release of chemicals, including histamine, which cause allergic symptoms.

In the case of milk, the triggers are milk proteins including whey and casein. You or your child may be allergic to either one of these proteins, or both.

More researchExternal Link is needed into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of food allergy.

Some reactions to milk are not caused by allergies

Some people can have a physical reaction to milk that is not due to an allergy. If you lack an enzyme called lactase, which breaks down the milk sugar lactose, you can experience symptoms that seem similar to an allergy (diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and gas). This is called lactose intolerance and is different from milk allergy, because it does not involve your immune system reacting to a trigger.

Some people also experience excess thick mucus in their throat after eating or drinking dairy products, but this is not caused by an allergy. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises that this mucus production is not a health risk.

Symptoms of cow’s milk allergy

Symptoms of a cow’s milk allergy can appear within minutes or several days of consuming cow’s milk or dairy products. The severity of the symptoms will depend on the person and the amount of cow’s milk they consume.

Symptoms that can appear within minutes of having a small amount of milk include:

• raised red bumps of skin – hives (urticaria)
• itchy, red, weeping or crusty rash of the skin – dermatitis or eczema
• swelling of the face
• wheeze or persistent cough
• vomiting
• diarrhoea.

If your child is prone to a severe allergic reaction to milk, these symptoms can also appear very rapidly.

Symptoms that can appear within hours include:

• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• rashes or eczema.

Symptoms that can appear within days include:

• eczema
• diarrhoea
• asthma.

Severe allergic reaction – anaphylaxis

Cow’s milk is one of the most common foods to cause severe allergic reactions. Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is life threatening.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:

• difficult or noisy breathing
• swelling of the tongue
• swelling or tightness of the throat
• difficulty talking or hoarse voice
• wheeze or persistent cough
• persistent dizziness or collapse
• paleness and floppiness in young children

If you, or someone your care, have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

• Do not stand or walk.
• Administer adrenaline (epinephrine) via injector (EpiPen® or Anapen®), if available.
• Further adrenaline may be given if there is no response after 5 minutes.
• Give adrenaline first, then asthma reliever puffer, if required.

Keep a record of your symptoms

Keep a diary that describes your symptoms or your child’s symptoms and when and where they occur. Your diary could include information about whether the symptoms occur:

• inside your home, outside or both
• for a short time or longer
• at night, during the day or when you wake up
• after you have had a particular food or drink
• after you have taken a particular medication, either prescription or over the counter from a pharmacy or supermarket
• after you have taken a herbal medicine.

Diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy

If you or your child have allergic symptoms, visit your family doctor who will ask some questions about your reactions. You can also discuss your record of your symptoms. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

If your symptoms appear rapidly after eating or drinking milk or dairy products, the allergy may be easier to diagnose, whereas symptoms that take longer to appear make diagnosis more difficult.

Allergists can test for allergies using a number of methods depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy, the allergist may:

• do a skin prick test
• do a blood test
• ask you to temporarily avoid all milk or products containing milk (elimination diet), then follow up with the introduction of milk back into your diet (food challenge) under strict medical supervision.

A number of methods claim to test for allergies but have not been medically or scientifically provenExternal Link. They can be costly and could lead to dangerous avoidance of certain foods. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) recommends that you do not use certain methods to have potential allergies tested, including:

• cytotoxic food testing
• electrodermal testing
• hair analysis
• iridology
• kinesiology
• pulse testing
• reflexology
• Vega testing.

Always speak with your doctor if you are thinking of using a complementary medicine or therapy for allergies.

Treatment for cow’s milk allergy

If you or your child have been diagnosed with milk allergy, treatment involves total avoidance of milk or products containing milk. This can be difficult to achieve.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises that children who are allergic to cow’s milk are often allergic to goat’s milk, and so substitution with a milk of animal origin may not be possible.

To avoid milk and milk products, read food labels and avoid foods that contain milk or milk products such as:

• butter
• buttermilk
• casein and caseinate
• cheese
• chocolate
• cow’s or goat’s milk – including ‘A2 milk’
• cream
• crème fraiche
• ghee
• ice cream
• margarines that contain milk products
• milk powder
• nougat
• whey
• yoghurt.

ASCIA has more information about dietary avoidance of cow’s milk for food allergyExternal Link.

Eliminate milk and milk products from your baby or young child’s diet only under strict medical supervision. Your doctor will need to advise on replacement sources of calcium and protein, which are especially important nutrients for children. Replacement formulas for babies also needs to be carefully supervised. For example, some children with cow’s milk allergy will not be able to tolerate soy milk products.

Emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), carry an adrenaline injector such as an EpiPen® or Anapen®, an Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Action Plan for AnaphylaxisExternal Link and a means of calling for medical assistance, such as a mobile telephone.

Emergency responses for a severe allergic reactionExternal Link are:

• Lay the person flat – do not allow them to stand or walk.
• Administer adrenaline with an injector into the outer mid-thigh.
• Always dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance in a medical emergency.
• Further doses of adrenaline may be given if there is no response after 5 minutes.
• Give adrenaline first, then asthma reliever puffer, if required.

If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) make sure you:

• Have an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis.
• Carry an adrenaline injector (such as an EpiPen® or Anapen®) to treat a severe allergic reaction.
• Consider wearing medical identification jewellery – this increases the likelihood that adrenaline will be administered in an emergency.
• Avoid medication (where possible) that may increase the severity of allergic reaction or complicate its treatment such as beta blockers.
• Avoid the food which causes your allergic reaction.
• Tell food staff about your allergy when eating out.
• Seek medical advice from a doctor or clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

Adrenaline injectors are also available over the counter from a pharmacy.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• Emergency department of your nearest hospital
• Your GP (doctor)
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• St John Ambulance AustraliaExternal Link Tel. 1300 360 455
• Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASICA)External Link
  • Cow’s milk allergyExternal Link
  • Locate a specialistExternal Link
• Allergy and Anaphylaxis AustraliaExternal Link

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Food intolerance symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Food allergy is a common disease in developed countries, where people tend to eat a variety of foods, willingly try vegetables, fruits, spices grown on other continents. It is easily diagnosed: a few hours or minutes after contact with the allergen, well-defined symptoms appear: itching, redness of the skin, rashes, sneezing, fluid from the eyes and nose, swelling, shortness of breath, palpitations, etc. When an allergen enters the body, the immune system produces antibodies – IgE immunoglobulins. Allergy sufferers know which foods they should not eat, and when faced with an allergen, they can take an antiallergic drug.

Food intolerance

The immune system, having identified substances in the body that it defines as dangerous, harmful, can produce another type of immunoglobulin – IgG. There is not an allergy, but another disease – food intolerance. It is no less dangerous, but the symptoms of food intolerance do not appear immediately, but after a few days. And people do not associate stomach pain, rashes, peeling skin, itching, with foods eaten 2-3 days ago. But, if you often eat a product that is not absorbed by the body, the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys suffer, general well-being worsens, diseases of the skin, nervous system may develop, overweight or underweight may appear.

The existence of food intolerances is questioned by some doctors, but two types of intolerances have been identified, supported by scientific evidence: lactose and gluten. If the body does not absorb lactose, there are pains in the stomach, diarrhea. If this is detected at an early age, at first the child’s allergy medications are prescribed, then a diet that does not contain dairy products is indicated. But disorders can appear in adults. Problems with the absorption of lactose have up to 30% of people over 30 years old. Lactose is also found in some alcoholic beverages, in confectionery, bakery products, and boiled sausages.

If the body does not absorb gluten, the symptoms of the digestive system are less pronounced. But latent intolerance leads to growth retardation in children, the development of osteoporosis, epilepsy, inflammatory processes and tumors in the intestines in adults. A latent course often has an inability of the body to digest meat, vegetables, fruits, and seafood.

Reasons for the prevalence of food allergies

Food intolerances that cause allergic reactions or the production of IgG immunoglobulins can be caused by various reasons:

• Diseases of the digestive system – with colitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, intolerance to fried, pickled, smoked, fatty foods appears.
• Disorders of the endocrine system, in which the production of certain enzymes is reduced. Newborns naturally feed on milk, and in many adults the production of the lactase enzyme is reduced, but due to genetic predisposition or for other reasons, the production of enzymes involved in the digestion of meat, chocolate, nuts, vegetables, fruits, grains may decrease.
• Intoxication of the organism. When eating fast food, foods containing a lot of dyes, preservatives, flavors, emulsifiers, flavorings, detoxification slows down and the immune system is activated, it can perceive any food as dangerous and produce IgE or IgG immunoglobulins.
• Psychogenic rejection of certain foods. It can form in childhood with force-feeding, due to severe stress associated with a certain food, or in adults after receiving information (true or false) about a certain product, due to disgust.
• Autoimmune disorders – inflammatory processes develop in the intestinal mucosa.

Diagnosis of food intolerance

Differences from food allergy (long reaction time, possible absence of severe symptoms) makes it difficult to diagnose food intolerance. But this disease retards the growth and development of the child, worsens the well-being of adults, can cause severe diseases of the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, skin diseases, the appearance of tumors, excess weight.

There are no reliable criteria for the diagnosis of this disease, except for lactose, gluten and fructose intolerance. The indigestibility of gluten and lactose is detected using special markers in the blood test, fructose – by the H2 breath test.

But it is necessary to exclude or confirm the indigestibility of individual products if instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods do not allow diagnosing the disease with such symptoms:

• abdominal pain, bloating;
• frequent, unexplained indigestion;
• heartburn;
• flatulence;
• nausea;
• skin rash, skin redness, peeling, dryness, itching.

Latent food intolerance does not appear immediately after eating certain foods, the reaction may be after a few days. To identify which foods make you feel worse, you can keep a food diary, conduct diagnostic fasting, or use elimination diets.

Food diary

Write down every day what foods you ate, how you feel, what unwanted symptoms you felt. After several weeks of observation, it is possible to reveal the latent intolerance of individual products, to understand after what period of time and how it manifests itself. After analyzing this information, the doctor will be able to prescribe treatment and give recommendations on dietary nutrition.

Diagnostic fasting

Diagnostic fasting is the refusal of food for 3 days. You can drink pure non-carbonated water, for example, Royal. If the patient’s condition improves, stomach pains, skin rashes, itching disappear, which means that they are caused by a latent indigestibility of certain foods. It is detected by following elimination diets. But diagnostic fasting is contraindicated in patients under 18 years of age, suffering from chronic diseases, pregnant and lactating women.

Elimination diets

A patient on an elimination diet eliminates one or more foods that have common properties (dairy, fruits, meat, baked goods, eggs, citrus fruits, etc.) from the diet for 2 weeks. If food that is not digested is excluded, the patient’s well-being improves. It must be completely abandoned.

Treatment

Individual indigestion of lactose or gluten, identified using markers, requires a review of the diet. If the body does not absorb lactose, you need to abandon dairy products, ready-made confectionery, milk chocolate, boiled sausages.

If gluten is not digestible, pasta, bakery, confectionery, potatoes and other products containing starch (sauces, jelly), kvass, instant coffee, wheat and barley porridge are excluded from the diet. It is not advisable to eat processed cheese, canned meat and fish. But you can eat rice, buckwheat, corn, some products for diabetics, dishes made from fresh meat, fish.

If a reaction to meat is detected after fasting and an elimination diet, the conditions of the diet should be changed to find out if the body does not digest any meat or certain types. Some people cannot eat chicken, but after eating pork, lamb, or beef, there are no unpleasant symptoms. But there may be intolerance to food containing animal proteins. Then you will have to give up meat, fish, dairy products.

If the H2 breath test reveals that the body does not digest fruit. From the diet, you need to exclude not only fresh fruits, but also juices, dried fruits, wines, jams, jams, desserts with fresh fruits or fructose.

Medical therapy

Medical therapy supplements the diet. It will help to eliminate the consequences that the intolerance caused. To speed up the cleansing and recovery of the gastrointestinal tract, quickly remove itching, skin rashes, patients take adsorbents for a short time. With severe pain symptoms, fever, anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Enzymes are prescribed to improve the functioning of the stomach and liver. Probiotics will help restore the normal microflora in the intestines.

Due to the exclusion from the diet of cereals, meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, the body may experience a lack of vitamins and minerals. It is replenished with the help of pharmacy vitamins, trace elements. But they should not be taken without a doctor’s prescription. An excess of vitamins is no less dangerous than their lack. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medications and vitamin complexes.

Refusal of dairy products – “I was ready to spit in the face of everyone who claimed that acne is from lactose. And she paid for it herself. What kind of rashes are really from milk *? Photos of my changes.

Hello everyone, my name is Alina. I dedicate today’s review to a long-suffering topic that I refused to take for two years – lactose and its effect on the body and skin condition, including. I’ll tell you about the effect of milk on my personal skin and what kind of rashes it provokes (if it provokes at all).

P.S. In order not to repeat myself, you can read the history of my skin in the review of the badyaga, everything is described in detail there. Here I will write only the main points.

I have always suffered from purulent pimples (small size) on my forehead, the rest of the areas were clear. In the summer of 2019, I was covered in large undercuts on my chin and cheeks, which I treated with antibiotics, but a year later (now) got the same.

Let’s go back to 2018. I entered the university and moved to live in a hostel, where I was not the only one who suffered from problematic skin. One of the girls who loves to watch all sorts of pseudo-healthy bloggers read that acne is caused by lactose, and suddenly decided that she had an intolerance to this component. A neighbor began to buy lactose-free milk and assured the others that all the problems in life (I exaggerate) because of him, to which we did not answer – we did not want to argue on such a seemingly stupid topic. I still think it’s stupid, why – I’ll tell you later. Actually, no one except her especially used milk, but she added it to her coffee several times a day.

We laughed at this, rolled our eyes, and besides, the condition of her skin did not change at all. But my attitude towards this topic has changed. From a pronounced denial, I moved to the stage of doubt in the summer of 2020. In addition to large subcutaneous lesions on the chin and cheeks, which returned after six months of clean skin, small pimples began to appear on the forehead – closed comedones. This was the first time in my practice. I knew that this type should be treated with acids, but because of the bright sun and the next vacation abroad, I could not do it. However, I could make observations. And I realized with surprise that these comedones began to appear when the amount of dairy products in my diet increased significantly – ice cream and cereals with milk. I had no other symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Beginning. I grow my eyebrows, somehow I plucked it))

Literally 3 days later

As in the meme with ice cream with nuts covered with chocolate

To be honest, it was difficult to give up “lactose” products at first, although I started to consume a lot of both milk and ice cream only then; It lasted two weeks in total. Thus, I can conclude that milk caused me some kind of addiction , comparable, for example, with sugar. Perhaps it was mentally difficult for me, because for two years I laughed at the imaginary lactose intolerance and its effect on the skin, and now it was not a laughing matter.

Nevertheless, I refused milk (though I still eat sour milk in the form of cottage cheese, for example, at least 3 times a week), flew away to rest and saw the result almost immediately. Forehead cleared, small closed comedones are gone. But nothing happened to the big sore subcutaneous , absolutely.

By this I want to show that avoiding dairy products is not a panacea in the fight against problem skin. And in general, there is still no scientific evidence that food causes rashes. Nutrition can affect blood sugar, and it, in turn, affects some sex hormones that are responsible for the intensity of sebum production by the sebaceous glands, for its quality. This can lead to clogged pores and pimples. But still, the main cause of acne is hyperkeratosis and increased work of the sebaceous glands.

And if in this thread you read other reviews on giving up milk, where you see simply phenomenal results and thanks to this girls get rid of such problems that I could not get rid of – read carefully and do not be deceived. They most often forget to write, or write casually, mention in one sentence that the result in their photo was obtained in the process of not only giving up milk, but also proper care and external treatment.

The results are clear. The bottom photo is fresh, but I have had such (without small comedones) skin on my forehead since the beginning of the experiment, I simply did not find a photo from that period. The main problems I have, as I said, on the cheeks and chin. As you can see, I have acne scars that appeared after the rejection, which once again indicates that acne continues to appear and disappear after a while (unfortunately, they only disappear on the forehead).
By the way, in the top photo, I also tried to cover up pimples above the eyebrow with bb cream (good), because they were larger and inflamed.

How to replace milk? Yes, the same milk, only lactose-free. Fortunately, we live in the 21st century and there are enough alternatives to many familiar products on store shelves. You can choose either just lactose-free milk or vegetable milk – rice, buckwheat, and so on. True, I didn’t see the point in such products – in the composition of the latter, for example, buckwheat flour, butter, water and a handful of sweetener. I don’t find this product useful, so I haven’t tried it. But there is hardly any benefit in store-bought milk either. The only thing I liked was coconut milk, especially when combined with millet and something sweet (honey or maple syrup). The price of lactose-free milk is slightly more expensive than regular milk (literally by 10 UAH, or $0.35; that is, the price is an average of 30 UAH – more than a dollar). Coconut is possible for 85 UAH. ($3) to take, and more expensive. The one in the photo below I took at a discount for 40 UAH. ($1.40). I don’t see the difference.

Porridges with lactose-free milk are no different from cereals with regular milk

Results.

I can really recommend giving up lactose for a while, for the sake of experiment, look at the result, evaluate and make an adequate decision for yourself. In no case should attribute all problems to milk and think that if you refuse it / replace it, absolutely all acne will disappear, you will lose weight not 10 kg in a week, get rid of cellulite and other myths from fitness and beauty bloggers of dubious qualifications .