Cheryl Marks Young

Allergy Myth Busting: Milk Allergy is Not Lactose Intolerance
You’ve just told a new acquaintance that your child is allergic to milk. She nods at you and offers a sympathetic frown. “Thank goodness for all those lactose-free options out there now, huh?” For people living with milk allergies, that response will sound familiar; it’s also a potentially dangerous misunderstanding. Confusing lactose intolerance (which would be addressed with lactose-free options) with a milk allergy (which would not) can have deadly consequences. If you’re not familiar with the difference between the two, take a moment to read this. A Doctor Knows First, and foremost, if you suspect that you or someone...
Cheryl Marks Young

4 Summer Steps to Prep for School with Food Allergies
Welcome to the dog days of summer. A new school year may be the last thing on your mind as you enjoy vacation, shuffle kids to camp, and find new ways to find relief from the heat and humidity. For allergy parents, however, this is the time to get your school-year game plan underway. If you haven’t already made your allergist appointments, talked to the school, and taken other preparatory steps, now is the time to get the ball rolling. Prescriptions and Paperwork Maybe it came home with your child in the waning days of the previous school year. Maybe...
Cheryl Marks Young

Baking with Allergies: Grab the Apron and Try This
Living with food allergies doesn’t have to mean living without. With a little creativity, you can adapt many of your old favorite recipes to accommodate the specific needs of the allergic person in your life. From swapping out milk for your favorite dairy-free alternative to trying one of the many egg replacements available, you may need to experiment to find the right combination of flavors and textures to make your revised recipe work. Roll-up your sleeves and give it a try! This list of egg and dairy substitutes will help get you started. Egg When egg is an ingredient, it...
Cheryl Marks Young

Be prepared: An Allergy Appointment Checklist
When your child (or you) has food allergies, visits to a board-certified allergist become part of your annual routine. Making sure you head into the appointment prepared can help you maximize your time with this important member of your food allergy management team. The following tips can help you get on the right track. Food Allergy Journal Your doctor will be using a combination of testing, a physical exam, and medical history to assess your child’s allergies. Being able to share any observed potential reactions or other experiences will be useful, whether this is your first visit or your hundredth....