RAF + eczema

1. See a medical professional.

2. No-one on here, or in an AFCO, can answer that. The only way to find out if a medical condition will delay or stop you joining up is to apply and see what the doctors say. Be aware, though, that in the Armed Forces you can come into contact with chemicals that you wouldn't in civilian life, so a history of eczema can make you unfit.

Thank you for replying
I’m trying to avoid going down the doctor route as I’ve heard stories of people being rejected as it showed up on their record as having eczema. Also, I had been before for something similar (but not eczema) and they gave me a steroid but it came back after a few months so I need to know the cause.
Also, if I join up and get rejected because I am deemed unfit, I thought that meant you can’t reapply for at least 3 years (if at all)?

I'm an ex-RAF Recruiter.

Every case is assessed on an individual basis, so don't go by other people's stories as you don't know the full background. You need to honest on your application, whether you go to a doctor or not, which isn't always a factor. . If you aren't, you can be rejected anyway for giving false information. You have no idea whether you may have a reoccurrence and that puts a burden and a risk on other people. Whatever role you apply for, they are going to look carefully at your skin condition, given what's on your records already.

You'd be told if you can reapply after a medical rejection, as it depends on the rules at that time.

So, if it is on my NHS record as having eczema, there is still a chance of getting in?

Also, do you think it's worth finding out the cause rather than trying to just get rid of it so that I can then be sure it won't come back?

The problem you have is that eczma is both visible and recurring. If you had something like 'a summer cold' aka hayfever, which for most people can be entirely controlled by cheap and effective over the counter medications, then you can play the 'don't get it on your medical record' game. But you have acknowledged that you have bad and prolonged eczma, with no as yet discovered cause, and this is fundamentally a bar to service.

If you want to try the 'don't get it on your medical record' approach, then you have to actively find the source (and there may not be one that you can control) and get it 100% cleared up, before you even approach an AFCO. However, chances are quite high that something in your service career (fabrics, heat/sweat, food intolerance, petrol, oil or other lubricants etc) will trigger a reaction and then you might be medically discharged anyway.

Is it worth even applying if I can’t get the job or will lose it at some point?