You don't say what your symptoms are. That could clarify this discussion.

I agree that the lactose is not a likely culprit unless eaten. But 
the proteins can be powerful triggers for allergic symptoms.  I'd go 
with the dairy protein angle.

And let's not forget - skin absorption is not the only route. There's 
also inhalation.

Some people - myself included - are both lactose intolerant (with 
gastrointestinal symptoms) and dairy allergic (with respiratory 
symptoms, lip/airway swelling, and skin symptoms such as hives and 
rashes). Gastrointestinal symptoms are also possible when an allergic 
reaction is present, but these would likely be different from the 
symptoms of lactose intolerance.

If your symptoms were allergic symptoms, you might want to take some 
precautions when mixing powdered milk-based formula, such as wearing 
plastic gloves and also wearing a good, tight-fitting mask that 
prevents inhalation of the powder (not just a flimsy, loose-fitting 
mask, meant mostly to stop sneezes from travelling too far).

I became more symptomatic to dairy protein exposure over time. It's 
possible that your relatively mild symptoms could worsen with each 
exposure, leading to respiratory distress (severe asthma, throat 
swelling, etc.). You might also want to get tested for dairy allergy 
and talk to your doctor about what you should do if you were exposed 
to the powder and were to have a worse reaction.

Don't take this too lightly. It's not likely psychosomatic.

Mark

At 12:07 AM 1/17/2007, you wrote:
>There is no possible physiological route that would lead to symptoms from
>hand contact with pure lactose.
>...
>So - most likely it's just a coincidence, or even a psychological affect from
>the knowledge that you're handling lots of lactose.