system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Does eating lactose while lactose intolerant have cumulative negative effects?

Does the intolerance have long term effects, if the immediate symptoms are ignored?
gpt
The lactose itself does nothing in people with lactose intolerance, they just can't digest it. The bacteria that feast on the undigested lactose that enters the intestine cause the problem.
If you don't eat lactose for a longer period you'll have less lactose-consuming bacteria in your intestinal flora.
If instead you eat lactose regularly your intestinal flora will contain more lactose-consuming bacteria. Which will result in a stronger reaction.

So no real permanent damage but eating lactose will worsen it.