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. In this video, 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]