Most skin conditions are not life threatening. Therefore, a history of a benign skin condition rar...
Most skin conditions are not life threatening. Therefore, a history of a benign skin condition rarely has any effect on life cover:
n Exceptions are when the condition is severe enough to warrant recurrent use of steroids such as methotrexate, which is used in severe cases of psoriasis. Recurrent use of strong steroids can have other health implications, including liver and kidney complications and, in these circumstances, we would approach the GP to assess accordingly and may apply a small loading.
n With non-melanoma skin cancers, we would require full information from the applicant confirming the frequency of carcinomas ' Cancer Research UK states that one incidence does increase your risk of another occurring ' how it was treated, that is was fully investigated and confirmed as non-melanoma and whether they are under review with regular skin checks. Treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers include radiotherapy and excision, and we would view an applicant with less than four excisions more favourably and could consider offering standard terms.
n When considering critical illness (CI) cover, again most skin disorders are acceptable for cover at standard rates. The exceptions are as before ' severe cases which prescribe strong steroids as treatment and may have associated risks, and recurrent episodes of non-melanoma carcinomas. Cancer Research UK states that if you have had a skin cancer before, you have a 30 to 50% increased risk of getting another. Therefore, in cases where we consider the risk to be increased, we would consider applying a skin cancer exclusion onto CI cover. Advisers and applicants should be aware that the definition for skin cancer within CI cover is invasive malignant melanoma. Therefore basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas are not covered as they are not considered critical.
n From a disability point of view, skin disorders can increase a person's risk of being unable to work. As mentioned before, the Health and Safety Executive are aware that skin disorders can affect the ability to work in certain occupations and that substances used in some occupations can also exacerbate the possibility of contracting a skin disorder. Therefore, we look to the occupation of the applicant when assessing their risk. If we consider that the skin disorder is likely to affect that person being unable to work 'for example, a food preparation assistant with eczema, a hospital worker with dermatitis, a manual worker whose job relies upon a certain degree of dexterity which is impeded by a skin disorder ' we would place an exclusion on the disability benefits to cover the extra risk present. While these conditions are not contagious, there are implications of contamination due to naturally shed skin scales and bacterial organisms being present, and general discomfort due to inflamed skin.
n Another factor to be considered in relation to disability benefits is the psychological effect of skin disorders on their sufferers. BBC Health quotes a survey which found that seven out of 10 sufferers of skin disorders experienced rejection and abuse from people who misunderstood the disorders. This can lead to depression and time off work. All time off work for applicants with skin disorders should be fully disclosed. Again an exclusion of a disease or disorder of the skin and any associated complications would possibly be applied. Skin disorders are mainly benign conditions ' they have little effect on life and CI cover unless a form of skin cancer, but from a disability point of view attention must be paid to the impact the condition could have on the applicant's ability to perform the tasks of their occupation satisfactorily.
