Help with skin condition and JSA/ESA issues

bizco

I am new here and would like some advice please. I am over 25 years old and over the last year or so i have been getting dry skin problems around my forehead, nose and scalp. I went to see my doctor last year and was told that i have a mild form of eczema called seborrheic(spelling?) which can be controlled with medication. Although it can flare back up at any time. I was given some cream to use. Over the years i have also lost a lot of hair from my scalp. This maybe hereditary but i believe i suffer from alopecia.

I am currently unemployed and signing on at the jobcentre. When i made my claim i did not tell them about this skin condition. It does affect my confidence a little especially when i approach new people. Some people and friends have even commented on the fact that my hair is thinning out. But the skin problem on the face is worse because if i dont apply some moisturiser every few hours it can become quite flaky and rough looking. If i attend an interview or go somewhere new im constantly checking my skin.

My main question is that should i have told the jobcentre about this? I am looking for admin/customer service work but this is exactly the type of work which would make me even more self conscious around new people.

A friend of mine has recently told me she thinks i should be on ESA. But im not sure what this means or what i should do next. Will the jobcentre be angry if i tell them now that i suffer from this skin condition and went to the doctor a few months back? Can they stop my claim because i wasnt clear with them about my skin condition?

If anyone could offer some advice i would be very grateful thanks.

dmg24

bizco wrote: »

A friend of mine has recently told me she thinks i should be on ESA.

Your friend needs to stop giving bad advice. ESA is for those that have conditions which mean that they cannot work, or have serious limitations in what work they can do. Your skin condition does not limit the types of work you can do.

By all means mention it to your JCP advisor, but I doubt they will even note it down.

healy

bizco wrote: »

I am new here and would like some advice please. I am over 25 years old and over the last year or so i have been getting dry skin problems around my forehead, nose and scalp. I went to see my doctor last year and was told that i have a mild form of eczema called seborrheic(spelling?) which can be controlled with medication. Although it can flare back up at any time. I was given some cream to use. Over the years i have also lost a lot of hair from my scalp. This maybe hereditary but i believe i suffer from alopecia.

I am currently unemployed and signing on at the jobcentre. When i made my claim i did not tell them about this skin condition. It does affect my confidence a little especially when i approach new people. Some people and friends have even commented on the fact that my hair is thinning out. But the skin problem on the face is worse because if i dont apply some moisturiser every few hours it can become quite flaky and rough looking. If i attend an interview or go somewhere new im constantly checking my skin.

My main question is that should i have told the jobcentre about this? I am looking for admin/customer service work but this is exactly the type of work which would make me even more self conscious around new people.

A friend of mine has recently told me she thinks i should be on ESA. But im not sure what this means or what i should do next. Will the jobcentre be angry if i tell them now that i suffer from this skin condition and went to the doctor a few months back? Can they stop my claim because i wasnt clear with them about my skin condition?

If anyone could offer some advice i would be very grateful thanks.

I do not think you were required to tell the Jobcentre about your skin condition and I do not think they will be angry that you did not tell them.

ESA is for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability and from what you have said I doubt this applies to you.

tazwhoever

both advices above come from experienced people, but i doubt they have a skin condition. Eczema varies, some have slight on their hands and some flare up badly. the best advice will come from a dermatologist.

please ask you gp to refer you to a dermatologist.

good luck

AnxiousMum

This advice is from someone who does have a serious psoriasis skin condition Unless yours is at the point of being unable to bend elbows, knees etc. without your skin breaking - then it shouldn't stop you from being able to find a job. Many people are very familiar with skin disorders - just have a look around at people in the nice weather where arms and legs are visible - look around the hairline of people - you will see many many people with the very same conditions.
As annoying as my psoriasis can be, I can't honestly say it has ever held me back in being able to find a job, or peform a job of any description that I have ever undertaken. I'm constantly meeting new clients etc. at the moment - and the only thing I do to try and 'hide' it is not wearing my hair tightly pulled back - it is soft around my face so that the horrible scaliness on my hairline isn't visible.
Just one thing that is really helpful with the itchiness though is 'sulphur'. Met a natural health person in Boots one time who mentioned it - works great for the itch and gives lots of relief.

dmg24

tazwhoever wrote: »

both advices above come from experienced people, but i doubt they have a skin condition. Eczema varies, some have slight on their hands and some flare up badly. the best advice will come from a dermatologist.

please ask you gp to refer you to a dermatologist.

good luck

I have eczema, and am well aware of how it can affect someone. The advice given by healy and I relates to the OP's benefit entitlement, which is what the OP asked about. I doubt that a dermatologist could answer the OP's query.

tazwhoever

"Eczema varies", and other skin conditions. I too take interest in dermatology.

http://www.eczema.org/

oldmotherreilly

Your JCP advisor would make a note of your skin condition only in relation to how it might affect your jobsearch-eg if there are certain environments you should not work in as it might aggrevate the condition. I do know how having a skin condition can affect your self confidence and how it can sometimes be difficult to face people when it flares up but personally, I have always found it helps me to carry on as normally as possible. However, I also know people who have to be treated as day patients in hospital three times a week to have their treatments etc to moisten their skin during flare ups and it may be possible for them to claim ESA. I would suggest that it would depend on the severity of the condition.

AnxiousMum

bizco wrote: »

I went to see my doctor last year and was told that i have a mild form of eczema called seborrheic(spelling?) .

However, the OP has stated that this is a 'mild' form. I don't see how someone can claim benefits for a 'mild form of excema' - half the nation would be on the sick!

oldmotherreilly

Yes, sorry, you're right-didn't read that bit!

tazwhoever

oldmotherreilly wrote: »

Your JCP advisor would make a note of your skin condition only in relation to how it might affect your jobsearch-eg if there are certain environments you should not work in as it might aggrevate the condition. I do know how having a skin condition can affect your self confidence and how it can sometimes be difficult to face people when it flares up but personally, I have always found it helps me to carry on as normally as possible. However, I also know people who have to be treated as day patients in hospital three times a week to have their treatments etc to moisten their skin during flare ups and it may be possible for them to claim ESA. I would suggest that it would depend on the severity of the condition.

Thank you, this is what I meant! But thank you to dmg24 and healy for opening up the answers...