Expert: Howard Lorenz - 7/10/2008

Question
I have a mild case of eczema. It normally flair up whenever I'm stressed, usually on the neck, or during extreme heat conditions.  I know eczema is a disqualifying factor, but my Air Force recruiter pretty much said if they can't see it, they can't diagnose me with it. I don't want to be dishonest, but I'd really love the opportunity to serve my country.

I honestly don't see many alternatives. I got accepted into Kennesaw State University, but I'll only be receiving approximately $11,000 to go to school when the estimated cost of attendance is around $17,000. My family can't help me with this at all. I've applied for financial aid from almost every imaginable source. I can't get a loan because I can't get a job.

I just feel so lost. Like, nothing I do ever works out for me. I'm a smart kid. 3.5 GPA, high SAT scores, high school diploma and everything. But I haven't got a dime to my name, and smarts don't seem to worth a thing anymore.

What do I do? What do I do...?

Answer
You have to understand that the regulations were written long before you or I were born.... or it seems that way anyway, back in a time when eczema was a big problem, yes it was disqualfying in a biug way, now we have more technology and lots of hytdrating lotions that we can get to combat flairups. It just depends on how bad your flair ups are.... you know that we are dong missions in the desert...will this pose you an problem, becasue if so ... then I can see opting out, but in the same token, if you can live with it, then press on.