Navy Docs: Medical Qualification Question

[dru2002]

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So I was misdiagnosed with eczema and am now being treated by a dermatologist and he changed the diagnosis to seborrheic dermatitis.

A)Is seborrheic dermatitis disqualifying (I ask because eczema is and seborrheic dermatitis is an eczema in the broadest sense of the word)?

B)If it is disqualifying how likely is a waiver?

C)How much of a mess is this going to be on a DODMERB physical for USUHS?

Thanks for any help and insight you may have.

 

[TheGoose]

C) The physical won't be the problem. You'll just walk in, drop your pants and bend over (you'll understand later). It's when DoDmerb gets their hands on your physical info and your self-reported medical history that you'll get a letter saying you were DQ'ed and then you'll need to go through the waiver process (if it's waiverable). It's not even that bad, the whole thing just takes forever.

 

[244913]

First of all, everything is waiverable.

Second, all of your answers can be found in AR 40-501, chapter 2, which governs enlistment and induction standards. I encourage all of the pre-meds and others to find this stuff online, and empower yourself to read and understand it.

Eczema is a very tricky thing. If this is noted in a chart that the military has gotten its hands on, you might be in trouble. Eczema after the 9th birthday is disqualifying and is VERY RARELY waived.

Now, your dx of Seborrheic Dermatitis falls into a nebulous category of "sebaceous disease." These, acne included, are generally disqualifying only if they are grossly disfiguring, unable to be controlled on meds, or, most importantly, "interfere with the proper wearing of equipment." Think kevlar, body armor, and harness.

So, if your dx in the chart is Seb Derm, you will likely not even need a waiver. If it is eczema, that is a different story. PM me if you like.

Also, remember that the induction authorities only know two things:

What you tell them, and what they can see.

61N

 

[TopSecret]

I think I'm in the same predicament. A few years ago I had a bout of "dermatitis" on a finger following a minor injury (tiny puncture wound exacerbated by the daily use of alcohol-based antibacterial gels prior to wearing gloves in the hospital) and in the differential was eczema along with contact dermatitis. After a couple weeks' course of topical steroids and going easy on the antibacterial gels the area healed. My finger has been normal years off treatment and have no problems with gloves either. I hope this wouldn't be disqualifying because the dermatologist wasn't too sure what it was.

 

[Gastrapathy]

I think I'm in the same predicament. A few years ago I had a bout of "dermatitis" on a finger following a minor injury (tiny puncture wound exacerbated by the daily use of alcohol-based antibacterial gels prior to wearing gloves in the hospital) and in the differential was eczema along with contact dermatitis. After a couple weeks' course of topical steroids and going easy on the antibacterial gels the area healed. My finger has been normal years off treatment and have no problems with gloves either. I hope this wouldn't be disqualifying because the dermatologist wasn't too sure what it was.

You are a board-certified physician yes? You wouldn't be disqualified if they had to amputate the finger.

 

[TopSecret]

You are a board-certified physician yes? You wouldn't be disqualified if they had to amputate the finger.

Yes, I'm board-certified. It was essentially a paper cut made worse with daily use of alcohol gels prior to seeing each patient. It stung quite a bit, but it didn't itch. Not sure how it was seen as eczema. Sometimes a paper cut is just a paper cut?

Interestingly, I've seen derm patients who were treated for contact dermatitis of the face when in fact the "dermatitis" was just a photosensitivity reaction from the acne medication that they were taking (tetracycline). I would be referred these patients for the workup of painful small fiber neuropathy, involving the face, arms and legs (sun-exposed) and they would be cured with an $8 bottle of broad-spectrum sunblock and the discontinuation of the antibiotic.

 

[dru2002]

Thanks for the answers guys. Unfortunately the eczema is on my separation physical so I feel I am obligated to disclose it. It was informally diagnosed by a gmo (I was a corpsman--it was in passing--and needed no treatment so no note was written). In the final physical it has no locations or description written just the word eczema. So, hopefully despite this they see the dermatologists dx and are happy it was misdiagnosed. I mean they are in the same differential and all the articles I have read note that it is very difficult to tell the two apart. The fact that this responds to selenium sulfide shampoo should be enough to confirm the dx. Well it's in DODMERB's hands. I'll let you know how it goes. Again thanks for all the advice.

 

[dru2002]

DODMERB qualified! Just thought I would let those of you who offered me advice. Thanks again.