Win Bio-Oil skincare for scars, stretch marks, ageing and dehyrated skin – comp now closed!

Bio Oil is a specialist skincare product that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone.

Its advanced formulation, which contains the breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil, also makes it highly effective for numerous other skin concerns, including aging skin and dehydrated skin.

Bio Oil is formualted with the following all-natural ingredients: Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Calendula Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil and Chamomile Oil.

Elixir has one 60ml worth £8.99 to give away. Just answer the simple question below. If you can’t wait you can buy at Boots.com

Bio-Oil

Costs £8.99 at Boots

Bio Oil is a non-comedogenic (acnegenic), hypo-allergenic product that is suitable for use by individuals with sensitive skin.

Improving the Appearance of Scars

Bio-Oil helps improve the appearance of all scar types. It is also highly effective in helping to maintain the elasticity of scar tissue on joints and other high-mobility areas.

Bio-Oil should be massaged in a circular motion into the scar and surrounding skin, twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months. Younger scars have a greater chance of improvement within a shorter time period, however, older scars will also benefit from the regular use of Bio-Oil. On new scars, Bio-Oil should be applied only once the wound has healed, and should never be used on broken skin.

What is a scar and how is it formed?

Scars are an integral part of the healing process and result from an imbalance in the production of collagen at the wound site. Scars go through numerous changes as they mature, but they are permanent in nature. Bio-Oil is specifically formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, but will never remove them entirely.

Improving the Appearance of Uneven Skin Tone

Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone caused by hormonal fluctuations, skin-lighteners or excessive sun exposure. Visible as dark patches on the face or body, uneven skin tone often becomes most apparent during pregnancy, menopause or after exposure to high volumes of UV light.

Improving the Appearance of Stretch Marks

Bio-Oil is highly effective in helping to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks. Bio-Oil helps to increase the elasticity of the skin, thereby the possibility of new stretch marks forming is reduced.

Ageing Skin

Sagging and wrinkled skin commonly associated with aging is largely caused by the weakening of the collagen and elastin support system in the dermis. Bio-Oil contains numerous ingredients that help to plasticize the skin, making it softer, smoother and more supple, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkled and sagging skin. Bio-Oil also moisturizes, which improves the texture, tone and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dehydrated skin

Bio Oil helps replenish the skin’s natural oils that have been stripped away by factors such as:

  • Frequent bathing/cleansing with harsh soaps
  • Excessive perspiration
  • Atmospheric conditions including exposure to the sun and wind
  • Central heating and air conditioning
  • Poor diet and/or insufficient water intake

To win our full size 60ml sample worth £8.99 please answer the simple question below and if you can’t wait buy at Boots.com

OUR WINNER WAS JULIE CLARK


Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com – See more at: http://www.theprizefinder.com/content/bio-oil-specialist-skincare-60ml-bottle-worth-%C2%A3899#sthash.mMGTB46R.dpuf

Dry Eye Syndrome – 20 Bausch & Lomb moisturisers to give away!

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There’s no disputing the fact that modern lifestyles are wreaking havoc on our eyes – with eight-hour days spent staring at a computer screen, and intense air-conditioning, cigarette smoke and pollution adding to the issue, associated health problems such as ‘Dry Eye’ syndrome are becoming increasingly prevalent.

In fact, ‘Dry Eye’ syndrome (also referred to as keratonconjunctivitis sicca) has now become one of the most common problems treated by eye specialists in the UK1. Characterised by a feeling of grittiness or soreness (but not necessarily a feeling of dryness), the condition is often accompanied by a reddening of the eye area and watery eyes, particularly when exposed to the wind.

But now help is at hand in the form of Bausch & Lomb’s Hycosan – a preservative-free formula designed to soothe and moisturise dry eyes. Hycosan incorporates the active ingredient sodium hyaluronate, a naturally occurring polysaccharide found to relieve symptoms of ocular discomfort through water binding properties that reduce evaporation, mimicking the natural tear film and increasing tear break-up time.

Each one-click, one-drop bottle contains 300 doses in a patented one-way delivery system which allows for safe and effective multiple use, and ensures that the product remains contamination-free for up to 12 weeks after first opening. The soothing formulation is ideal for those with sensitive eyes and for use with both soft and hard contact lenses.

Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Hillingdon Hospital, Mr Nick Lee said: “A combination of environmental factors and medical conditions make dry eyes increasingly common for people in the UK. Keeping the eyes well lubricated is essential not only for comfort but also to protect the eyes from developing other complaints which can be far more serious.”

Hycosan is available from Dollond and Aitchison, plus independent pharmacies and opticians, priced £12.99 (RRP) for three months’ supply.

We have 20 of these to give away. Please email us at readeroffer@elixirnews.com with your name and address and Eye in the email header by July 30. Please note that no cash equivalent is being offered and the Editor’s decision is final.

1 International Glaucoma Association

Dry Eye Syndrome

In addition to our lifestyles, factors such as hot, dry or windy climates, high altitudes, common medication and allergies such as hay fever can trigger symptoms. Thyroid disorders, vitamin A deficiency, Parkinson’s disease and hormonal changes as women enter the menopause may also cause dryness.

While an irritating and uncomfortable condition in its own right, particularly dry eyes can cause complications, damage eye tissue, scar the cornea (the front covering of the eyes) and causing infections such as conjunctivitis and even impair vision.

Bausch & Lomb’s Hycosan

Bausch & Lomb’s Hycosan is a preservative-free formula designed to soothe and moisturise tired, dry-feeling eyes.

Hycosan incorporates the active ingredient sodium hyaluronate, a naturally occurring polysaccharide found to relieve symptoms of ocular discomfort through water binding properties that reduce evaporation, mimicking the natural tear film and increasing tear break-up time.

Each one-click, one-drop bottle contains 300 doses in a patented one-way delivery system which allows for safe and effective multiple use, and ensures that the product remains contamination-free for up to 12 weeks after first opening.

The soothing formulation is ideal for those with sensitive eyes and for use with both soft and hard contact lenses.

Hycosan is available from independent pharmacies and opticians, priced £12.99 (RRP) for three months’ supply. For further information, please visit www.bausch.com

Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers worldwide. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products.

The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and employs approximately 13,000 people throughout its international office network. Its products are available in more than 100 countries.

DRY EYE SYNDROME

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dry eye syndrome?

Our eyes are always covered by a thin layer of liquid, most commonly known as a tear film, which is made from of a mixture of water, proteins, fats, mucus, and infection-fighting cells. As well as lubricating the eye, the tear film also keeps the area clean, stabilises vision and protects the eye against infection.

Dry eye syndrome (also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca) refers to a spectrum of ocular surface diseases which are caused when the eyes do not make enough tears, or those tears evaporate too quickly.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:

Feelings of dryness, grittiness, or soreness, in one or both eyes which get worse throughout the day
Redness
Watery eyes, particularly when exposed to wind
Eyelids stuck together on waking

What causes dry eye syndrome?

Many factors, such as hot, dry or windy climates, high altitudes, air-conditioning, prolonged use of contact lenses and cigarette smoke can contribute to dry eye syndrome. Some people also find their eyes become irritated when reading or working at a computer.

Dryness can also be caused by medication such as antihistamines, nasal decongestants, birth control pills, some treatments for high blood pressure, antidepressants and isotretinoin tablets for acne.

Thyroid disorders, vitamin A deficiency and Parkinson’s disease may cause further dryness. Women also frequently experience problems with dry eyes due to hormonal changes as they enter the menopause.

How common is it?

According to the International Glaucoma Association, dry eye syndrome is one of the most common problems treated by eye specialists in the UK. Studies have suggested that between 17% and 30% of people experience dry eye syndrome at some point during their life.

Who is affected by dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is more likely to affect people who are over the age of 50, and the condition is more common among women than men.

Complications of dry eye syndrome

If left untreated, dry eye syndrome can cause complications, such as scarring of the cornea (the transparent layer at the front of the eye) and conjunctivitis (inflammation or infection of the eye), making it important to consult a GP or eye health specialist as soon as possible.

Such complications produce symptoms such as:

Sensitivity to light
Redness
Pain in the eyes
Deterioration in vision

Diagnosis

A GP should be able to diagnose dry eye syndrome after discussing the symptoms and your medical history. An examination may be carried out to check for other conditions and complications.

The GP will also want to know about any medicines that you are taking, as well as your personal circumstances, in case a possible cause of dry eye syndrome can be identified.

Ø Referral to an optometrist

Your GP may refer you to an optometrist for a check up, who will use specialist equipment to examine your eye. The optometrist will also be able to give you advice about treatment. Optometrists are private practitioners and charge for their services.

Ø Referral to an ophthalmologist

If the diagnosis is uncertain, or specialist tests and treatment are required, your GP may refer you to an ophthalmologist – a surgeon who specialises in eye diseases.

If you have an underlying medical condition which is causing dry eye syndrome, your GP will prescribe treatment for it.

Most people with dry eye syndrome also have blepharitis, which is a common (and usually mild) chronic inflammation of the rims of the eyelids. The basis of treatment of blepharitis is eyelid hygiene. In other words, keeping the eyelids clean, and massaging any trapped material out of the glands in the rim of the eyelid.

If your underlying condition is a complex one, such as HIV, or lupus, you will need to be referred to a specialist for treatment, if you are not already receiving treatment for the condition.

Treatment

Although no cure exists for dry eye syndrome, there are a range of treatments which can control your symptoms.

Ø Artificial tears

Mild to moderate cases of dry eye syndrome can often be treated with eye drops that contain ‘artificial tears’ – a liquid that is designed to mimic the properties of the tear film. These eye drops are available from a pharmacy over-the-counter (OTC) without prescription.

Bausch & Lomb’s Hycosan is a preservative-free formula designed to soothe and moisturise dry, tired-feeling eyes. Hycosan incorporates the active ingredient sodium hyaluronate, a naturally occurring polysaccharide found to relieve symptoms of ocular discomfort by reducing evaporation, mimicking the natural tear film and increasing tear break-up time.

Hycosan is available from Dollond & Aitchison, plus independent pharmacies and opticians, priced £12.99 (RRP) for three months’ supply.

Ø Anti-inflammatory medicine

Anti-inflammatory medicines work by blocking the functions of your immune system that are involved in triggering inflammation, and are usually prescribed by a GP in the form of a cream, or ointment.

Ø Specialised eyewear

Some cases of dry eye syndrome can be treated using specialist eyewear. These include specially made glasses, known as moisture chamber spectacles, which wrap around your eyes like goggles, helping to retain moisture, and protecting eyes from irritants.

Progress in contact lens manufacture has meant that many are designed specifically for people with dry eyes and lock in moisture. Talk to your optometrist for details.

Ø Surgery

If dry eyes fail to respond to other forms of treatment, surgery may be an option.

Punctual occlusion, involves using small ‘plugs’ to seal the tear ducts, which help keep the eye protected by tears. Temporary plugs made of silicone are usually used in the first instance to see if the operation has a positive effect. If it has, more permanent plugs can be used to replace the silicone ones.

Self-care

There are several self-care techniques that can help prevent, or reduce, the symptoms, of dry eye syndrome:

Ø Keeping your eyes clean will help prevent dry eye syndrome

Ø Massaging the eyes by gently rolling your first finger over the upper lid in a circular motion will help to push out any of the mucus-like fluid from the tiny eyelid glands.

Ø Protecting your eyes from wind and hot air by wearing a pair of wraparound glasses will help prevent them drying out

Ø Positioning your computer workstation correctly will minimise eye strain. Your monitor should be at, or just below eye level and you should ensure you take regular breaks away from it during the day

Ø Stopping or avoiding smoking can help to reduce irritation to your eyes

Ø Using a humidifier at work and at home will help moisten the surrounding air. Opening windows for a few minutes on cold days, and longer in the spring, and summer will also help to keep the air moist

Ø Eating a diet that is high in omega-3 fats, can help prevent dry eye syndrome because the fats are used in the production of tears. The best source of omega-3 fats are oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon, sardines, tuna, and herring

Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers worldwide. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products.

The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and employs approximately 13,000 people throughout its international office network. Its products are available in more than 100 countries.

More information about the Company can be found on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com

New solution for Dry Eye Syndrome

London: Clarymist is the first product of its kind to offer fast, effective relief from Dry Eye Syndrome, a rapidly increasing problem. Current options are messy and inconvenient – but now with this great new treatment – one quick spray with Clarymist gives instant relief.

Dry Eye Syndrome is one of the most commonly treated eye conditions in the world and is now one of the most frequent patient complaints to UK ophthalmic opticians. Many factors contribute to dry eyes (wearing contact lenses, central heating, drinking alcohol, watching TV or working at your computer). Put simply, the main cause of Dry Eye Syndrome is a disturbance of the lipid layer in the eye which covers the actual tear film. This oily layer stops the tears evaporating. One of the main reasons the oily layer gets disturbed is because we don’t blink frequently enough. Also as we get older the problem affects more and more of us.

Blinking usually occurs about 20 times a minute but studies show that when working at a computer, for instance, blinking drops to about 5 times a minute… and those playing computer games sometimes only blink once or twice in 3 minutes!

But now relief is at hand and dry, gritty, sore eyes can be a thing of the past with new, revolutionary Clarymist – a single spray on to your closed eyelid – much easier and more pleasant to apply than traditional and messy eye drops or gels – which will result in an immediate cooling and soothing sensation. After a few minutes the phospholipid liposomes get to work and the dryness is eased away. Having no direct contact with the eye, there is no blurring or impairing of vision, so it is safe to use before driving or operating machinery.

Clarymist eye spray is the ideal product for anyone who suffers from Dry Eye Syndrome and contact lens wearers can safely apply the product while wearing all types of lenses. What’s more, the handily sized small bottle is highly cost-effective, providing over 100-metered doses. Just keep a bottle in your pocket, handbag or desk drawer for instant relief any time you feel your eyes getting sore and gritty. Also Clarymist has an amazing 3-year use-up date which means no more wasted bottles of drops.

Clarymist is available in the UK from larger Tesco stores, high street opticians, pharmacies and independent health stores or online from www.clarymist.com

Eye facts – did you know that?

• About 10 % of thepopulation experience varying degrees of Dry Eye Syndrome
• Dry Eye Syndrome affects one in five people over the age of 55**
• Dry Eye Syndrome affects 75% of people over the age of 65
• The use of Clarymist improves the discomfort of 85% of patients***
• A third of the population regularly puts up with dry, irritated and watery eyes*
• 75% of soft contact lens users get Dry Eye Syndrome
• Dry Eye Syndrome can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors including central heating, air conditioning, air pollution, dry climates, wind, saunas, spicy foods, alcohol, contact lenses and activities such as driving, watching TV, computers and reading**
• Dry eye is a confirmed side effect of laser eye surgery**
• The typical symptoms include dryness, grittiness, irritation, difficulty reading for long periods, burning and even tearing or watering
• Computer users tend to blink much less frequently (about 5 times a minute as opposed to the normal rate of 20 times a minute) making dry eyes a major problem for them
• British people spend 128,780 hours per working lifetime sitting in front of a TV or computer screen*
• The average person spends 30.5 hours a week sitting in front of the TV*
• The typical working person spends 35 hours a week sitting in front of their computer screen*
• If the average individual works between the ages of 18 and 65, 2740 hours or three and a half months a year will be spent in front of a screen*
• If left untreated, Dry Eye Syndrome can damage the outer protective tissue of the cornea which can lead to permanent scarring and sight loss**

* National Eye Week, 2005
** The Eyecare Trust
*** A new therapy concept with a liposome eye spray for the treatment of “dry eye”; Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 2004; 221:1-12

WHAT IS DRY EYE SYNDROME?

Symptoms

Most of us experience dry eye at some time. Dry eye makes itself felt as a sensation of burning or dryness. Your eyes feel tired, sometimes you get a gritty feeling, and often you are over-sensitive to bright light. Most of you will recognise the symptoms.

What causes dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome has become increasingly common in everyday life, due to environmental factors and increased use of computers. It also becomes common as we get older, especially for women. Other causes are through disease (diabetes, blepharitis) and also certain drugs can induce its onset. It is particularly frequent if you wear contact lenses or work in an air conditioned office building. The pollution that occurs in towns, long car and plane journeys, caffeine consumption and smoking all contribute too, and you’ll also be susceptible if you have undergone laser eye surgery.

Its effect on the eye

Your eye is protected and lubricated by a thin film of tears. Also there are glands on your eyelids that put an oily layer over the top of the tear film to stop it evaporating. In about 80% of dry eye cases, this oily film is deficient, allowing the protective tear layer to evaporate and irritation to occur

How Clarymist Works

1) Clarymist eye spray is sprayed onto the outside of the eyelids, resulting in a soothing, cooling effect right across the eye
2) Some of the Clarymist eye spray liquid penetrates around the eyelids and onto the tear film that coats the eye
3) The lipid (oily) component from Clarymist eye spray spreads across the outer surface of the tear film, reinforcing the natural oils that are already present
4) The rate of evaporation of the tear film is now significantly reduced, allowing it to provide proper lubrication to the eye
5) The symptoms of dry eye quickly diminish

Ingredients

Soy lecithin 1.0% A phospholipid, a polar molecule consisting of a fatty acid component that is lipid-soluble, along with a charged phosphate group that is water-soluble. Phosphatidylcholine is the main lipid component of soy lecithin (94%), and also the most common phospholipid in natural tears. It is present in Clarymist eye spray in the form of liposomes. Sodium chloride 0.8% Present in natural tears. Renders the aqueous content of Clarymist eye spray compatible with the user’s tears. Ethanol 0.8% A solvent to maintain the less water-soluble ingredients in the aqueous carrier. Vitamin A palmitate 0.025% A lipid-soluble antioxidant component that is also closely associated with eye health Vitamin E (tocopherol) 0.002% A powerful antioxidant vitamin which is lipid-soluble and can therefore aid protection and stabilisation of lipids. Phenoxyethanol 0.5% A preservative commonly selected for use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics due to its effectiveness in very low concentrations and its low allergic reaction. Being volatile it evaporates from the aerosol state and does not impact on the user, so it can be safely used with contact lenses