Category FAQs Search : Lactose Intolerance
Question: What is the difference between lactose intolerance vs. milk allergy?
Answer: The main difference is that a milk allergy is a reaction from your immune system to a milk protein. Lactose intolerance is a reaction in your digestive system to a milk sugar. An allergic reaction has an emergency quality. It can be immediate, severe and, in some cases, life-threatening (anaphylaxis).
When your digestive system reacts to a sugar that it can’t digest, it can mean uncomfortable symptoms during digestion, but it isn’t dangerous. Undigested lactose will produce extra water and gas in your colon. It might give you diarrhea and gas while it’s processing through, but it won’t harm you.
(Source: Cleveland Clinic, 31 Jan 2026)
Source Link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7317-lactose-intolerance