Skin Disorders
Skin disorders may
result in a significant and long lasting impairment.
If these disorders involve extensive areas of the body or critical areas
such as the hands or feet, they can be especially restrictive. The skin disorder must be shown to have persisted
or expected to persist for at least twelve months despite treatment. The discussion of skin disorders in this chapter
will include burns, lacerations, traumatic deformities, disease induced deformities and
some standard skin disorders.
General Evaluation
No matter what the skin disorder
or its cause, there are a number of basic criteria for evaluating these impairments. Below is a list of factors to consider when trying
to determine (if and how) a skin disease might interfere with the claimant's ability to
work.
1. Is there a significant deformity of any area of
the body which would distract fellow workers,
or cause extreme anxiety to the claimant? Does
the disorder physically or psychologically reduce the claimant's ability to perform the
job? Do not overlook the psychological effects a deformity can have on a
claimant.
2. Does the skin disorder interfere with the
claimant's ability to handle objects, stand,walk, see, hear or communicate?
3. Is the disorder contagious or in any way dangerous
to fellow workers?
4. Are there any restrictive side affects from the
medications used to treat the skin disorder?
5. How does the working environment affect the skin
disorder? If the claimant's past work is with chemicals, this type of work may worsen the
condition. The claimant should be restricted from any environment which causes a
worsening of his skin disorder.
6. Does the condition cause restrictive pain
on movement?
If one or more of the above
questions can be answered "yes" in respect to a claimant with a skin disorder,
you may have a valid argument for an RFC reduction.
Always evaluate the specific restrictive effects which the skin disorder has
on the claimant.
Here is a list of some of the
possible skin disorders you will encounter. Since
all skin disorders will be evaluated for the same physical criteria, we will not discuss
the list. If specific information about a
given skin disorder is required, simply refer to your Merck Manual or other medical
reference text.
Severe fungal infections
Psoriasis
Disorders of the sweat glands
Burns
Cataracts
Stasis dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis
Contact dermatitis
Warts
Severe acne
Alopecia Keloid
Hyperpigmentation
Hypopigmentation
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