Eczema?

[Arran]

Hey, basically i had a eczema prescription in early 2005 but didnt actually use it as my mum got it back then incase i needed it as a worst case scenario. I know ashtma needs 4 years clearence, im praying that exzcema doesnt, does anyone know? I swear iheard it was 2 years if any once, and i met a guy breifly once who said he didnt get in cos of exzema n the army, so im pretty paranoid about it, any help?... Thanks in advance...

[sportbilly42]

Stop it! You're making me itch!

[Arran]

So can anyone actually help, please :p

[tom163]

Have a pop into your local ACIO office mate, im sure they will be able to give you the awnsers then and there.

Or try this mate (I never have before) its a ACIO online, prob be alot quicker if there isnt one near you-

http://www.armyonline.mod.uk/


Tom

[jabcrosshook]

The online ACIO won't answer your question because it's a medical question, I don't think anyone on here could give you a 100% definitive answer, your best bet is to go catch the bus into town and ask the staff in ACIO.

[Arran]

Hmmm ok, i looked at a few older topics on eczema and some peeps were saying dont say anything about it and try it, cos it isnt a problem i aint had it in like 5 years but theres a prescription that is 3 years ago may this coming, when they write to my GP she'd say that i dont have it cos shes knows my mum used to get em just incase so she could say about it. So do you reckon i shouldnt say anything and just go for it or ask em and pray they dont do anything about it???...

[sportbilly42]

Doc will probably give a definitive answer on this but presumably if you've got no obvious symptoms currently then I would put it to the back of your mind. Worrying about it may only kick something off and make your skin flare up. Stress is a common trigger for atopic eczema and depending on your nature would depend on how much stress you're able to take before the cracks appear .....all over your body!

The medical types would assess you and perhaps do allergy tests on your skin if necessary. There may be certain jobs you'd be best avoiding (like Petroleum Op) but as this post is on the Para thread then I guess you're already looking at Para roles.. You may be perfectly alright and just have to be more aware than others to avoid contact with any substances that your skin takes exception to. ...Like fuel for instance.. Minor inconveniences of putting on protective gloves when you're filling a genny up perhaps. Looking after the key areas for eczema sufferers (elbows/armpits etc) if you're serving in hot climates ...that sort of thing. The Health & Safety police have invaded the military now so wearing protective gear isn't seen as such an issue. (Maybe less so on Ops.)

[Arran]

Yeh that makes a lot of sense, it was only a bit weird eczema when i was like 12 when id get a few cuts on my hands an a lil bit of dry skin on my forearms. But i grew out of it long ago, but cos i was younger my mum was just one of those worryers and got em to make sure. I cant remember the last time i had a problem with it at all to be honest which is the worst thing... Im gonna ring up the careers office and try to get hold of the person who does the medicals and see what he says...

[tom163]

I used to have it about 3 years ago mate and hasnt effected me since, no one could even knew I had it so aslong as it doesnt effect your health you should be fine.

[Arran]

Did you have it on prescription or? I phoned the forces career office and the guy reconned that if its been over 2 years it should be fine and asked another guy and he thought the same as long as it was mild. They wernt the medical examiner but thats what htey thought, they said they didnt have a medical person there but i know htey do so i dunno why they didnt transfer me over, maybe he wasnt there, but im applying soon so we'll see what happens.

[tom163]

Did you have it on prescription or?

If you mean did I have a perscription for it, yes I did my doctor used to perscribe some special cream for it. From a recent check up with my doctor she now says its all cleared up and is no longer going to be a problem or affect me getting into the Army but she is going to leave it on my medical record just incase.



Tom

[Tab]

The thing is you can wind up in some festering hell hole which could cause the problem to to break out. Tell them the truth and be done with it, now you could be a key element in your unit then they find that they have lost you to a skin problem.

[Arran]

Well the thing is i havent had it for ages and i was in thailand for a month a while back in blazing heat at at Muai Thai and MMA camp and was training like 4-6 hours a day and had no problems with it, and i was grappling and stuff, so i dont see why it would break out anywhere else, i know htere are worse places but if nothing came up at all there i dont think it would be much different from anywhere else, liek other things i grew out of it so it should be fine...