Allergic to whole milk but not formula?

[Honeyandlemon19]

Hi all

Not really sure what to do. We’ve been weaning DD since 6 months and she’s been fine with pretty much everything we’ve given her except whole milk. We first used a little bit of it when making scrambled egg (which was also her first time having eggs) and a few hours later she came out in a rash all over. Dr gave us an allergy medicine and it was gone by the next day.

We initially thought it must be a reaction to the egg as she’s always been formula fed with no issues. So we waited a few weeks and gradually tried egg a few more times on its own and there was no reaction. So then tried making the scrambled egg again with whole milk and the same thing happened. Massive all over rash within a few hours.

She can have formula, yogurt, cheese and even had a little chocolate button the other day with no reaction at all. I’m so confused why the whole milk is causing such a reaction.

Obviously with the current crisis I’m not bothering my Gp with this as it’s not a massive issue, yet. But I don’t really know what to do next? Has anyone had any experience of this?

Thanks x

How did she have the eggs the other times? Cooking eggs for longer can make them less allergenic.

If she can eat yoghurt then I would guess this is not a classic cows milk allergy.

Eggs have always just been scrambled or in an omelette. And when they’ve been on their own she’s not had any reaction.

The rash is crazy, really really red and covers her head to toe. One spoonful of the allergy medicine and it’s gone by morning.

Whole milk has more concentrated lactose than the other things you mentioned. I'm intolerant to dairy, and so is DS (as diagnosed by dr, not a diet fad) and if we drink whole milk we get stomach problems. Can have a yoghurt without a problem. Too much cheese, yoghurt or ice cream and we feel bad.

I've had this since I was a kid - used to have fruit juice on cereal, could never drink hot chocolate without feeling like I'd crap my pants (tmi but as example) yet fine with normal amounts of cheese.

That’s interesting thanks for that. Does that mean she might be okay someday with semi or skimmed milk? Or should I be using a dairy alternative for milk? I haven’t tried her with anything nut related yet so don’t think I can try almond milk etc.

Cultures in yoghurt breakdown some of the lactose as I understand it.

Intolerance to lactose isn't an allergy, it's an intolerance.

Generalised rash suggests a classic allergy (not an intolerance).

My dd could only have semi skimmed. If she has full fat she has an awful belly and if she continues she ends up being sick. She is 13 now and knows when she's had something with full fat milk x

Lactose is the milk sugar and actually, I think it might be higher in lower fat milks. Could be wrong?

My daughter didn't get on with whole milk either. I tried it in her breakfasts for a few weeks and she had a load of eczema patches appear. As soon as I cut it out and used oat milk they calmed down. Like yours, Aggie can have yoghurt, cheese and has been on HIPP formula with no problem. No idea if there's an intolerance but I don't fancy messing with her system so she has one bedtime bottle of formula and anything else that requires milk I use Oatly Barista.

Funny my son was exactly the same- he was ebf and when trying to wean him into cows milk he broke out in an awful rash everywhere . He was over a year old , now he’s nearly two he can digest it much better.
I think it’s about introducing it slowly and see how he goes .
My son could eat cheese etc as well but took a while to be able to eat yogurt and high concentration of sugar .

I had a slightly different experience with my DS, he is cows milk protein allergic, but his is a non-IGE allergy meaning he would get terrible stomach and sleeping problems with milk products but he didn't get an immediate skin rash or any swelling, but eczema would follow. Actual whole milk was awful to him, but the reactions with cheese, yogurt and formula were milder. we were advised to cut milk products out of his diet strictly for 6 weeks, he was so much happier... he is still mostly dairy free but can tolerate small amounts occasionally.

My elder son has IGE allergies and would come up with a huge rash like you describe for tomatoes, he was ok with tomatoes when he was a little older, 2 1/2 i think. Its not a small issue and you should speak with your GP, allergies can get worse or better so you need some proper advice and you may need to push for it, you should be able to get some over the phone help. Personally I would be cutting dairy out of her diet totally in the mean time, I know it is difficult, but it is easier now than has ever been, my son appeared to tolerate some dairy but in reality it was affecting his sleep and digestion.