Oasis Beauty launches new eye care preparation to counter effects of screen based devices

News Release

Date: 28^th April 2014

COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME MEANS THAT EYE CARE IS VITAL SAY HEALTH RESEARCHERS

Oasis Beauty, New Zealand’s leading expert in sensitive skin products has developed a natural eye care preparation, Lips & Lashes, to counter the effects of our increasing use of illuminated screen-based technology, which researchers claim is leading to peak levels of computer vision syndrome, with up to 90% of people who use a computer for work suffering from symptoms.

Lips & Lashes creator, Stephanie Evans says: `For more and more of us staring at a computer monitor for hours on end has become a part of our lives. Researchers now know that this reduces the blink rate and so the lubrication of our eyes. Not only that the demands of the light intensity and focussing unnaturally can put a real strain on your eyes and the muscles around them. Researchers have given the name computer vision syndrome (CVS) to the eye problems caused by computer use because it is not one specific eye problem but a range of eyestrain, pain experienced by computer users.’

Known for its signature brand Oasis Sun SPF30+, the Canterbury based manufacturer has developed Lips & Lashes a topical cream, which includes:

•       Aloe vera & cucumber provide a soothing action for sensitive and sore eyes.

•       Honey, rosehip oil, calendula oil, apricot kernel oil & vitamin E
all work to moisturise the area around the eyes without weighing the skin down.

•       Arnica reduces inflammation and bruising so it helps with puffiness and dark circles. It also helps promote hair growth and is used in hair preparations at 1-2% so it’s what we use to grow your eyelashes!

•       Vitamin E lotion is also a well-known way to increase hair growth.

•       Glycerin and hyaluronic acid (HA) are humectants that absorb moisture and swell, filling fine lines and wrinkles.

•       Green tea is a super powerful antioxidant that is a wonderful fighter destroying nasty cell-damaging molecules in our body, known as free radicals. This keeps us looking fabulous for longer!

Research shows computer eye problems are common[1]. Somewhere between 50% and 90% of people who work at a computer screen have at least some symptoms of eye trouble. In addition, children using mobile video games or who use computers at school also can experience eye problems, especially if the lighting and computer position are less than ideal.

Computer vision syndrome is similar to other repetitive stress injuries at work caused by carrying out the same motion repeatedly and gets worse the longer you continue the activity. There's no evidence that computer vision syndrome causes any long-term damage to the eyes. However, regular computer use can be the source of significant discomfort.

Stephanie explains: ‘Using an illuminated screen means that the eyes continuously move backwards and forwards from the screen to other objects such as papers and then back up to type and require a lot of effort from eye muscles. It is much more challenging to your eyes than reading a book or piece of paper, which means that eye care becomes even more important, especially as we get older. The skin around our eyes is the one of the first places to show signs of ageing because it’s up to 10 times thinner than the skin on our face and is surrounded by constantly moving muscles. The four main areas of concern in this area are under eye dark circles, crow’s feet, wrinkles and puffiness. We’ve developed Lips & Lashes to help reduce these symptoms.’

More information can be found at www.oasisbeauty.co.nz

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About Oasis Beauty:

Oasis Beauty specialise in multi-purpose products for sensitive skin. We’re making it easier, simpler and more affordable for women to take better care of their skin. The products are manufactured in New Zealand from ethical, natural and organic ingredients combined with high vitamin contents.

Oasis Beauty products are available online and through pharmacies, beauticians and health stores nationwide. Oasis Beauty is cruelty-free and supports the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

Contact:

Peter Boyes: peter@boyespr.co.nz - 09 5757 003 or 0275 540 500

Stephanie Evans: steph@oasisbeauty.co.nz or 021 070 9729

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[1] http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/computer-vision-syndrome

SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR CHIROPRACTORS IN MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS ACCORDING TO NEW CLINICAL GUIDELINES

Local muscle strengthening and general aerobic fitness together with manipulation and stretching should be the core treatments for managing osteoarthritis according to a major update on guidance to healthcare professionals from the influential UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE)[1] published this month.

The New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) has welcomed the guidance, which recommends care that is widely available from the country’s chiropractors. According to Arthritis New Zealand over 300,000 New Zealanders are living with osteoarthritis.

NZCA spokesperson and chiropractor Dr Hayden Thomas says: `Activity is a key part of maintaining good joint health. Proper movement and alignment of the spine is especially important as it forms the lynchpin for overall health and wellbeing through its relationship with the nervous system. The new guidance points out that osteoarthritis need not be an inevitable part of ageing or that it will necessarily get worse. These evidence-based recommendations on the most effective ways of diagnosing and managing osteoarthritis show that the core treatment for osteoarthritis remains exercise, which relieves pain for some people and also improves function.

`As chiropractors we already offer advice to those with osteoarthritis who are overweight or obese on ways to lose weight as part of helping them self-manage their condition and it is good to see this is another amended original recommendation. We welcome too the recommendation that the symptoms often caused by osteoarthritis, such as pain and limited joint movement, can be managed with muscle strengthening, exercise and weight loss if people are overweight. We note that the original recommendation that manipulation and stretching should be considered as an adjunct to core treatments, particularly for osteoarthritis of the hip, has been maintained, all of which reinforces the important role that chiropractors can play in the management of this condition. NZCA members are pleased to be working cooperatively with all agencies and professions in supporting the findings from this research.’

Dr Thomas points out that research is showing us that we are relying too much on pharmaceutical medications with potentially dangerous side effects, when what many of us need to do is take steps to improve our health and wellbeing with lifestyle changes.

The NZCA recommends a basic three-point plan to help support healthy joint function and minimise the possibility of degeneration:

1) Get Checked - having every member of the family checked by an NZCA member chiropractor helps the spine and nervous system to function at an optimal level for overall health and well being. They can also give you great advice on making positive lifestyle changes.

2) Straighten Up  - doing the three-minute set of simple exercises recommended by Straighten Up New Zealand every day will help improve posture, stabilise core muscle groups, enhance health and prevent spinal disability.

3)  Watch Your Back - it is also important to encourage family members and work colleagues to stand or sit correctly and to take frequent breaks to walk around and stretch if they have been sitting down for a while. This will help to stop muscles getting tight and strained.

Each of these recommendations alone is great, but in combination they are a real winning strategy.

For more information on the Straighten Up campaign, visit www.straightenup.org.nz. Further details on the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association can be found at www.chiropractic.org.nz.

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Further Information:

Dr Hayden Thomas, Chiropractor 027 299 9939

Peter Boyes 027 554 0500 or peter@boyespr.co.nz

About the New Zealand Chiropractor's Association: The New Zealand Chiropractor's Association (NZCA) was founded in the 1930's. It is a voluntary, self-regulating, supervisory body serving both the chiropractic profession and the public of New Zealand. The purpose of the NZCA is to maintain professional standards, liaise with various government and health bodies, and to be a professional voice for chiropractic.

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[1] http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG177/Guidance/pdf/English

Six Reasons Why Only PR Should Manage Your Online Content

By Peter Boyes

1. We know how to tell the right stories to the right people

 All media relations, but especially social media needs our unique skills in the creation, stewardship and ability to share engaging and relevant stories with the appropriate audiences. Whether you call it content marketing or brand journalism it is a core function of what we do.

Public relations is about telling our clients’ stories using a range of carefully chosen communication styles and media. We have to be great journalists. Social media is another way to tell and share your stories. It is not an IT function or an advertising copywriter’s blank sheet.

2. We are strategic communicators.

Just because ‘technology’ is involved it doesn’t mean that IT people, or video producers or ‘digital experts’ are the right people to handle an organisation’s strategic communications. An understanding of visual storytelling is needed but the paramount importance of words cannot be underestimated in social media. Social media is another form of conversation and conversations are essentially about using words effectively, then listening to the response and reacting accordingly.

Public relations is about effective conversations. We have to be experienced writers, editors, proof-readers and listeners. These are the essential skills for blog posts, tweets, status updates, and online debate.

3. We understand what is relevant for your business.

Social media is not just about random posts that interest the poster. It is about supporting an organisation’s strategic business objectives. To do that posting has to be timely, interesting, and relevant. There is a Goldilocks factor, not too much, not too little, not too bland, not too blatant.

Public relations is about understanding when to say something and when not to. We are experienced in creating content relevant to a specific audience. If we are pitching to a journalist, or your clients, politicians or key opinion leaders, talking to your staff or your customer base, we know how to tailor the type, tone and topic of the content we share.

Yes social media provides us with excellent tools to measure our interactions and better understand our publics and communicate with our stakeholders. But it is only one part of a complicated series of interactions all of which are important in maintaining your social networks and meeting your customers’ expectations of you.

4. We are experienced in building and maintaining relationships.

At the very core of PR practice is the development of fruitful relationships for our clients through effective communications, whether that is with journalists or stakeholders. Many of these professional relationships are maintained by phone, email and now social media. To do that we need to understand your business intimately.

Social media is all about understanding and maintaining those relationships. That is not the role of IT people, ‘digital experts’, website developers or advertising executives. Only public relations has the complete skill set to manage relationships with people we have never met, find accurate information quickly, and meet customer service expectations.

5. We are the issues managers.

Public relations practitioners are highly trained in issues management and crisis communications. It is our job to be aware of issues that are sensitive for you and your business. These are the skills required to identify and manage a social media crisis. At these times you must get your organisation's point of view into the conversation as fast as possible, answer any questions, correct misinformation, and be as helpful as possible. PR is the best agency to handle reputation management within the essential but potentially dangerous digitally viral environment.

6. We are the ears.

Our longstanding experience is getting feedback about our clients' reputations is easily transferred to social media. We know which questions to ask and when and of whom. And most importantly we know how to use that information to inform future communications, create positive organisational change, and improve customer experience. There’s nothing more deadly to an organisation’s profile than surveying or asking questions of its audience and then not using that information to deepen the relationship. Yet with most online surveys, that is what happens every time.