E45.com provides comprehensive information about why eczema occurs, its symptoms and common triggers

Eczema really is a common skin condition - the numbers speak for themselves: according to the National Eczema Society, one in five children and one in twelve adults in the UK have it. If you are one of them, you may be aware that eczema does not have a 'cure', but that it usually can be managed effectively.

E45.com>>

But why does eczema occur at all? And will your child suffer their whole life? This section explains about the symptoms, causes and triggers of eczema, examines how children and teenagers are affected and provides answers to some frequently-asked questions.
Eczema appears as sore, itchy, red patches on the skin, often with tiny blisters (also called vesicles). The rash usually affects the back of the knees, the creases of the elbows and the face and neck. Sometimes, in severe cases, it also appears on the torso.
The itching of eczema can be intense. Sufferers - especially young children - tend to scratch the inflamed patches. When scratching is hard enough to break the skin, the inflamed area may also become infected. In the long run, repeated scratching can lead to permanent skin thickening.
Eczema symptoms
• Dry, red, scaly rash, often on the face, neck, hands and creases of the limbs.
• Itching, often worse at night.
• Skin discolouration, with reddish to brown-gray patches, due to increased blood flow to inflamed areas.
• Weeping blisters.
• Redness, due to bacterial infection (usually staphylococcus).
• Thickening of the skin, due to repeated scratching.

Symptoms of eczema>>

Why does eczema occur?

Skin acts as a protective barrier for our bodies, keeping moisture in and infection and irritants out. Skin with eczema is less able to retain water. This allows gaps to open up between the skin cells and allergens and irritants to pass through more easily.
Because skin with eczema is prone to drying out and is easily damaged, it is more liable to get red, inflamed and itchy.
Triggers
No matter how well you look after your skin, there are some things that can cause a flare-up. By understanding your particular triggers, you can minimise their effect. Here are the most common:

Common Triggers
Soaps and perfumed bath or shower products
• Use emollient washes and bath oils designed for people with eczema.
Detergents and washing powders
• Use non-bio washing powder.
• Wear protective gloves when cleaning or washing up, preferably PVC and cotton-lined.
Central heating
• Keep rooms cool, particularly your bedroom.
Animal hair and dander
• Avoid contact with animals if possible.
• Wash your hands after contact with pets.
Woollen clothes, man-made fibres
• Avoid wearing woollen or man-made fibres
• Instead, wear smooth, soft cotton clothes and use cotton bed sheets.
Cold/hot weather
• Wear gloves in cold winter weather.
House dust mites
• Use a mattress protector and wash it regularly.
• Vacuum carpets regularly and wash curtains.

Illness is also a trigger, so keeping as healthy as possible helps.
Other triggers can be emotionally linked e.g. stress and anxiety. This means that flare-ups occur exactly when they are least welcome, such as during job interviews, weddings and other important dates. So try and relax - deep breathing techniques may help.
All about eczema>>

Teens with dry skin and eczema

Eczema is pretty common. In fact, around one in five children in the UK suffer from it. If your teenager is one of them, however mild or severe, you will know how it can affect their daily life. However, it is possible to manage their dry skin and atopic eczema, so that it doesn't rule their lives.
Keep on top of flare-ups
Read the section on causes to find out what can trigger flare-ups, but others that may affect your teenager are:
Harsh soaps and detergents
• Tell your teenager to avoid them.
Make-up or shaving foam and creams
• Test them on a little area of skin first.
• Discuss with their doctor or nurse which cosmetic products would be most suitable for your teenager.
Perfume, aftershave
• Suggest they spray a little on their clothes, rather than their skin.
Chlorine in swimming pools
• Avoid chlorinated pools, look for ozone- or UV-purified, salt-water or fresh-water alternatives.
• Make sure they apply emollients before and after swimming.
Other triggers can be emotionally linked - like when they suffer from stress at school,so try to help them stay relaxed.

Eczema in Teenagers>>

A new veterinary site is launched called Atopica.com which covers common canine skin disorders, in particular Atopic Dermatitis.

Here you can read about the causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and management of these disorders and view images of affected animals. Guidance on diagnostic techniques provides practical help for confident diagnoses and there's also a section with helpful tips and advice about explaining to pet owners.

Atopica.com>>

The site offers several key features such as the derma-tool. A Vet can use this tool by answering seven questions about their Patient and they will be given a list of the most likely differential diagnoses.

Derma tool>>

A simple diagnostic approach leads to faster comfort for pruritic dogs. A Vet can use Favrot Criteria to help identify dogs that may have atopic dermatitis. Firstly they can confirm that history & clinical signs are compatible with atopic dermatitis, then use the site to rule out resembling diseases, so that they can prescribe Atopica with confidence.

Simple diagnosis>>

Dr Tim Nuttall of Liverpool University, UK, talks about the challenges of piecing together the evidence to diagnose atopic dermatitis in practice and how to keep up with the latest developments in dermatology. Plus he shares his views on what’s changed in recent years to make diagnosis more simple and long-term treatment more effective.
On the site, Dr Wayne Rosenkrantz also talks you through his approach to simple diagnosis in practice and offers tips and advice on what steps to follow. Vets can download a simple fact sheet to help outline a protocol for simple diagnosis in their practice.
There is a Treatment journal on the site which is a useful monitor for vets to see how a dog is responding to treatment.

Treatment Journal>>

Owners of dogs with atopic dermatitis are asked to register and update an online Treatment Journal. Details of treatment and the dog’s wellbeing are recorded, with an option for owners to upload photographs of their dog’s progress. Access to any Treatment Journal is via a unique pet owner ID. Vets can also set up a Treatment Journal on behalf of a pet owner.

Diagnosis techniques- When you suspect that a dog could be atopic by using the Favrot Diagnosis Criteria and assessing history and clinical signs, you need to rule out resembling diseases.

Simple tests such as cytology and skin scrapes can identify other diseases that could be causing pruritus (e.g. fleas, sarcoptic mange, demodicosis) as well as secondary 'flare' factors that contribute to pruritus in dogs with atopic dermatitis (e.g. pyoderma, Malassezia).

Diagnosis Techniques>>

Vets can use simple step-by-step guides to remind them of the basic procedures as well as provide references for the clinical symptoms to look out for.

What is the best way to deal with constipation during pregnancy?

It is estimated that one in five women get constipation during pregnancy, many of whom have never had constipation before. There are a variety of reasons for this.

Hormonal changes affect bowel movements. During pregnancy, the body produces more progesterone, which relaxes the muscles to allow the baby to grow. However, the wall of the intestine is made of muscle, too. As the progesterone makes it relax, it can become less efficient at moving along food and waste.

Many women take iron supplements during pregnancy which can also be a contributing factor to constipation. Tastes can change at this time and many women alter their diet. This change in eating habits can also affect bowel activity, particularly if it means a reduction in fibre-rich foods.

Constipation during pregnancy>>

The growing baby puts pressure on the bowel, while the discomfort of its weight and general tiredness may lead to a lack of exercise. Both can slow down bowel movements.

Even after pregnancy, some 29% of women continue to get constipation.

I still suffered from constipation even after I had the baby. Maybe you are more aware of what goes on down there when you have had a child. You are more stressed having a new baby, you're run down, everything... You are not eating properly, and worrying about going back to work

Constipation Relief during Pregnancy

First of all, do not worry. There are a number of things you can do to help get your digestive system moving again during this time.

• Increase your fibre intake
Your digestive system may need a little help during this exciting time. Eating more fibre-rich foods, like fruit, vegetables, cereals and wholemeal bread will help provide the necessary roughage to keep your system moving.

• Drink plenty of fluids
Drinking a lot of fluid helps keep the stool soft and easy to pass. At least 7-8 glasses a day is recommended. You can drink as much water and fruit juices (particularly prune juice) as you like and even a little tea or coffee counts towards the total.

• Make sure you get enough exercise
Although you may feel heavy and uncomfortable, exercise helps prevent your digestive system becoming 'sluggish'. Safe exercise during pregnancy includes walking, swimming and other low-impact activity where there is little chance of sprains or accidents. Approximately 20-30 minutes of exercise two or three times a week can have a beneficial effect, not only for your digestive system, but also your general well-being.

• Your doctor may suggest a remedy.
(always read the label and consult a doctor before using any medicines in pregnancy)
- A simple way to help maintain regularity is by taking Fybogel, which is safe for use throughout pregnancy. Fybogel granules are dissolved in a glass of water to make a convenient drink which is easy to take and speeds up the passage of waste through the bowel. (contains ispaghula husk - always read the label and consult a doctor before using any medicines in pregnancy).

ItchFreePet offers online pre-diagnosis tool for dog skin conditions, for dog owners to take to their next veterinary appointment

ItchFreePet.com knows only too well that there are many causes and treatments for skin conditions in dogs. They have listed the most common skin conditions in dogs, on their new site, which dog owners can click on for a description of what it looks like and to see a picture of an affected animal. They have also provided an online Atopic Dermatitis test to start a discussion with your vet, and take with you at you next veterinary appointment.

Dog skin conditions

The ten most common causes of skin conditions in dogs are Atopic dermatitis; Food allergy; Flea allergy; Sarcoptic mange (fox mange/scabies); Demodicosis (mange); Other parasites; Bacterial infection; Yeast infection; Ringworm and Otitis (ear infection).

In humans, Atopic dermatitis is known as eczema. It's one of the most common dog skin conditions, affecting around 1 in 10 dogs. It's often a result of the animal becoming too sensitive to one or more allergens in the environment, for example house dust mites, pollens, mould spores and occasionally foods.
Your dog might have atopic dermatitis if it
• has itchy, red skin
• has infected or crusted spots
• is losing its hair
• has thickened, discoloured skin

Food allergies can happen when a dog becomes too sensitive to certain foods.
Your dog might have food allergy if it has
• itchy, red skin
• hair loss
• rashes
• tummy upsets, sickness or changes in bowel habits
Food allergies can cause signs of atopic dermatitis. It’s a difficult condition to diagnose and a food elimination trial may be needed to confirm exactly what foods the dog is allergic to.

Fleas bite through the dog’s skin and the flea saliva causes the allergic reaction. Dogs can get flea allergy even if a flea treatment has been applied. When dogs are allergic to flea saliva, they’ll show signs of itchiness even if only a few fleas are present, so just because you don’t see any fleas, it doesn’t mean they are not causing a problem
Your dog might have flea allergy if it
• has bumps on the skin that last for several days and then scab over
• is itching and scratching, especially on its rump
• has red, sore skin
• starts losing some hair
• has thickened and/or discoloured skin
If a dog has flea allergy the typical area affected will be its top and back half– around the tail base and on its outer and inner thighs.

Sarcoptic mange is also known as fox mange or scabies. Some areas have an increased risk of this type of mange due to infection from local wildlife, such as urban foxes or coyotes.
It’s a contagious skin disease caused by mites that burrow into the skin and make it really itchy. It’s so itchy that quite often dogs may stop eating, playing or exercising just to scratch. Initially the most commonly affected areas are the outer ears and elbows. It can then spread to the head and eventually all over the body.
Your dog might have sarcoptic mange if it
• is intensely itchy,
• possibly with infected or bleeding spots
• eventually loses some hair
As it’s very contagious, owners may also develop an itchy, bumpy rash if their dog is infected.

Demodicosis is also known as demodectic mange or red mange. Small numbers of the demodex mite are normally found in the skin and ears of healthy dogs without causing any problems. Sometimes, however, the number of mites can suddenly increase and cause a disease called demodicosis, especially in young dogs
Your dog might have demodicosis if it
• has bald patches on its face, especially around its eyes, and on its legs
• has a rash
The dog rarely finds it itchy unless any of the patches get infected, so scratching may be unlikely. If left untreated it can get more severe, spreading all over the body, and making the dog unwell. Demodicosis that develops in adult dogs can be a sign that the dog has an underlying illness.

Many parasites can cause itchiness in dogs. Itching may start as a reaction to a bite, or if the parasite burrows into the dog's skin. Different areas of the world have different parasites.
• Ear mites are common in younger dogs and are found in and around the dog's ear. They can cause the ear to itch and produce excessive amounts of brown ear wax.
• Fur mites live in dogs' fur and are very infectious. They cause mild itching and lots of dandruff. Owners of infested dogs may also be bitten and develop reactions.
• Harvest mites mostly live in vegetation and attach to a dog's skin around the eyes, ears, legs, toes, rump and belly, i.e. areas in contact with grass and vegetation. They can cause itching, crusty spots, scaling, and hair loss. They generally only occur in the autumn.
• Lice - these parasites can attach to the base of the hair, particularly around the head, neck and tail. Here they feed on hair and skin scales. They can also attach to the skin of the neck and shoulders, where they feed on blood. They cause intense itching, leading to chewing, scratching, restlessness and hair loss. The dog's coat might look rough and matted because of all the eggs (nits) and lice in its hair.
• Ticks - there are many different types of tick across the world, but the brown dog tick is found in most parts. Ticks feed on blood and their bites cause itching. They're commonly found on the face and ears, around the rump and joints, and in between the toes, but they may be found anywhere on the body. Some types of tick carry a poison in their saliva, which can lead to a bitten dog becoming paralysed. Most ticks only feed once a year and they fall off the dog after a few days, when they have had a blood meal.
• Flies can cause painful, swollen bite wounds mostly around the dog's head, neck, ears and body. Hair over the bite may become matted. If the wound becomes infected it may get very itchy and there may be a smelly or bloody discharge.
• Hookworms - these parasites live in the dog's gut. They're passed out via dog faeces into the environment where other dogs can pick them up, sometimes through their paws, causing inflamed feet. Hookworms can also cause weight loss, diarrhoea with blood in it and anaemia.

It's quite normal for healthy dogs to have bacteria living on their skin. However, if the skin gets damaged in any way it can result in a bacterial infection (often called pyoderma).
This means any skin condition can lead to bacterial infection, as these conditions usually cause the dog to itch and scratch, therefore damaging its skin.
Body areas that can be particularly affected include skin or body folds such as those of the face, lips and tail. It also often affects the feet and ears.
Your dog might have a bacterial infection if it
• is itching and scratching
• has got red, weeping wounds
• has started losing its hair
• has swollen, painful spots and scabs
As the infection spreads, the dog can become very unwell.

Yeast infection is a common fungal skin infection that usually occurs together with other skin diseases. Yeast (known as Malassezia) are normally found even on healthy skin. However when dogs have another skin condition, the yeast often develops into an infection, causing itching.
Your dog might have a yeast infection if it
• has red, greasy skin
• has lots of crusty, flaky spots
• is losing its hair
• is itching, scratching and clawing at its skin
• smells stale or 'yeasty'

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that attacks the dog’s claws, hair and skin. It spreads through direct contact with infected animals or through contact with infected hairs or skin flakes on surfaces such as grooming equipment and bedding, or from the infected animal’s environment.
Your dog might have ringworm if it
• is only itching very mildly
• is losing its fur in patches, often starting on the face and forelegs
• has skin flaking
Some dogs, however, may have ringworm without showing any symptoms at all.
It’s possible for pet owners and their families to develop ringworm infection after handling an infected dog.

Otitis (ear infection) is a common ear complaint. Lots of different things can lead to ear infections, including
• foreign bodies (e.g. grass seeds) or parasites (ear mites) in the ear
• narrow or floppy ears, or ears that are very hairy inside
• excessive ear wax
• some skin diseases
• regular swimming, bathing or grooming
One of the most common causes of repeated or long standing ear infections is atopic dermatitis.
Your dog might have an ear infection if it
• has a red or swollen ear
• is itching, scratching or pawing at its ear
• is shaking its head or holding its head on one side
• has smelly wax or pus coming out of its ear

Atopic dermatitis test

E45.com launches new dermatological site for common dry skin complaints

You can find out more about common dry skin complaints and what you can do to help keep your or your family's skin smooth, soft and healthy. e45 Emollients>>

Dry skin is a very common skin condition which can affect the whole body, but usually appears on the face, hands, arms and legs. While it is not harmful from a medical point of view, it can make you feel very uncomfortable. In mild cases, the skin may feel dry and tight. There may be red or white patches which can feel itchy. The skin can also appear scaly or flaky. In the worst cases, there can be bleeding or even pain.

Dry skin is not always a symptom of disease. It can be the result of a dry environment, use of harsh soap products, insufficient fluid intake or excessive sunbathing. Dry skin can run in the family and age is a factor, too: over the years, the skin loses its ability to retain moisture, while oil-producing sebaceous glands reduce in number. Dry skin tends to get worse in autumn and winter.

Dry skin can also be a symptom of other skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or ichthyosis. If you suspect this might be the case, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

E45 Cream is a trusted formula suitable for the whole family, including adults, children and the elderly. This effective, non-greasy emollient is quickly and easily absorbed by the skin. Suitable for eczema, dermatitis and other dry skin conditions, E45 Cream works by replacing lost moisture and forming a protective barrier, leaving your skin feeling soft and comfortable again.

• Clinically proven to treat and soothe dry, itching, flaking, chapped and rough skin.
• Suitable for dry skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.
• Available in 50g, 125g, 350g and 500g.
E45 cream is a medicine. Always read the label.

For more information on how E45 works please go to e45

Linzi Stoppard and her violin duo FUSE launch plus perform at Fashion For The Brave

On September 6th electric violinist Linzi Stoppard launched Fashion For The Brave modelling an exclusive Jasper Conran bespoke Union Flag dress at the Household Cavalry Barracks in Hyde Park, London.

The Household Cavalry joined top British fashion designers that include Matthew Williamson, Betty Jackson, Bruce Oldfield, Jasper Conran, Ben De Lisi and Caroline Charles at an A list fundraising event which supported Help for Heroes, ABF the Soldiers Charity as well as The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund. Fashion For The Brave (first of what will be an annual event) took place at The Dorchester on October 26th 2010 with guests that included Sir Philip Green, Sir Roger Moore etc.

At the press launch and photo call Angela Rippon OBE (who hosted the evening and spoke on behalf of the three charities at the press launch) joined model / electronic violinist Linzi Stoppard who was accompanied by mounted and dismounted cavalry troopers as well as wounded troopers who have recently returned from Afghanistan. Also present was be co-founder of Help for Heroes Bryn Parry, General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter of ABF The Soldiers Charity and Captain Alistair Galloway of The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund.
Beaming broadly - and feeling just a little nervous - Linzi Stoppard mounted a cavalry black gelding called Tweedale, wearing a long Union Flag ball-gown and six-inch red satin platforms from Gina.

Her equestrian exploit was staged to officially launch 'Fashion for the Brave', the unique charity initiative which unites British fashion and British forces. Fashion for the Brave, was staged at The Dorchester Hotel, on October 26th, marking the first time in the 350-year-old history of The Household Cavalry, that the regiment has ever taken part in such an event.

Linzi Stoppard launching Fashion For The Brave at the Hyde Park Barracks... 'Fashion for the Brave' was be a black tie gala which raised funds for three military charities. The fundraising event managed to donate hundreds of thousand of pounds to the charities.

More than 50 of the country's leading designers and heritage brands featured in the evening's fashion show, including Jasper Conran, Matthew Williamson, Bruce Oldfield, Victoria Beckham, Julien Macdonald, Betty Jackson, Paul Smith, John Rocha, Caroline Charles, Philip Treacy, Stephen Jones, Holland & Holland, Aquascutum, Austin Reed, Barbour, and Frank Usher.

The Dorchester hotel was transformed with high-impact, show-stopping installations and ceremonial appearances from The Household Cavalry.

The evening was be hosted by Angela Rippon, OBE, with a special performance by FUSE, featuring Linzi Stoppard, and The Dismounted Band of The Household Cavalry.

Jaguar Land Rover has donated the star auction item of a limited edition 2011 Range Rover, valued at over £100,000. The auction also featured items donated by Dame Helen Mirren, Stephen Webster, Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry.

FUSE are virtuoso musicians Linzi Stoppard and Ben Lee who, on their self-titled debut album, harness their bespoke signature Bridge electric violins and take Rock tracks that people love and radically but lovingly reinterpret them. As Linzi says, “It’s completely fresh, no one thought that what we do was even possible. Someone recently said, ‘The album is great but I can’t hear as much of the violins as I’d like’. Everything you hear is violins! The style that we use when we play is more akin to that of a guitar player, with more soul and electricity – literally! We chose work from artists that are huge stadium acts, and that’s where we want to be. It is that big and that powerful - get some ear plugs! We specialise in blowing away people’s preconceptions.”

What FUSE do is unique but they feel that the tracks that they reinvent are not untouchable. “We’re unafraid to cover classic rock tracks,” says Ben. “Don’t forget that all “classical” music today is cover versions of music by pop stars from the last 300 years! What we do can have a truly global appeal; there are no language barriers. Whilst we’re a string band, people can sing along to the choruses that we all know”.

The Household Casualties Fund
•Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund
The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund (HCOCF) aims to help provide financial support to injured soldiers and their families, including those who have lost their lives on active service.
Help For Heroes
•Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a charity formed to help those who have been wounded in Britain's current conflicts.
The Soldiers Charity
•Soldiers Charity :: Home

Hubpages.com

Linzi Stoppard Launches Fashion for the Brave and a Performance with FUSE for the Fundraising Gala at the Dorchester Hotel, London

Fashion for the Brave is the British Fashion Industry’s luxurious show of support for the armed forces with a fundraising target set at £1 million pounds. The highlight at this black tie gala will be a star studded fashion show followed by an exclusive performance by world class violinists Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee, FUSE.
ShareThis Email PDF Print . .Fashion For The Brave at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane

Linzi Stoppard looked absolutely stunning in a bespoke Jasper Conran Union Flag dress flanked by mount Household Cavalry Guards at the Hyde Park Barracks...

Fashion for the Brave is the first time in the Household Cavalry’s 350-year history they have collaborated in such an event. It was, however, a beautiful example of how the fashion industry can support the armed services and a great promotion of the work they do and the sacrifices they make.

The event was announced to the media with a photo call by electric violinist and model Linzi Stoppard at the Hyde Park Barracks. Linzi Stoppard wore a bespoke Union Flag dress by British designer Jasper Conran, with mounted cavalry from the Household Guard.

Especially to celebrate the occasion 100 foot high Union flags projected onto the front of The Dorchester hotel Park Lane, London, hosted the inaugural gala event including a silent auction featuring paintings of the Queen, original photography of Marilyn Monroe, a luxury Range Rover and international holidays, the charity was aiming to raise £1million last night. No word yet on the final tally, but the bids ran high.

Electric rock violinists Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee as FUSE joined forces with classical vocalist Helene Horlyck and opened the main event performing on their exclusive Swarovski FUSE Signature encrusted violins worth over £1,000,000 each, before Hilary Alexander of the Telegraph introduced the fashion show which featured swimsuits by Melissa Odabesh and Heidi Klein, a salute to style in Temperley, Mary Katrantzou and Topshop, and closed with all things red, white and blue from Julien Macdonald, Matthew Williamson, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney,and Victoria Beckham.

FUSE are virtuoso musicians Linzi Stoppard and Ben Lee who, on their self-titled debut album, harness their bespoke signature Bridge electric violins and take Rock tracks that people love and radically but lovingly reinterpret them. As Linzi says, “It’s completely fresh, no one thought that what we do was even possible. Someone recently said, ‘The album is great but I can’t hear as much of the violins as I’d like’. Everything you hear is violins! The style that we use when we play is more akin to that of a guitar player, with more soul and electricity – literally! We chose work from artists that are huge stadium acts, and that’s where we want to be. It is that big and that powerful - get some ear plugs! We specialise in blowing away people’s preconceptions.”

What FUSE do is unique but they feel that the tracks that they reinvent are not untouchable. “We’re unafraid to cover classic rock tracks,” says Ben. “Don’t forget that all “classical” music today is cover versions of music by pop stars from the last 300 years! What we do can have a truly global appeal; there are no language barriers. Whilst we’re a string band, people can sing along to the choruses that we all know”.

Fashion For The Brave is now set to be an annual A list fundraising event each year, which will support Help for Heroes, ABF the Soldiers Charity as well as The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund.

For more information please visit
http://www.operationalcasualtiesfund.co.uk
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
http://www.fuseofficial.com
http://www.linzistoppard.com

PRWeb

ItchFreePet offers advice on the causes and symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis in dogs

Like humans, dogs can be allergic to lots of different things in everyday life. These allergies can show up in the same way as humans too, with dogs getting ear infections, eye infections and skin conditions like eczema.

Atopic Dermatitis in dogs

Of all the dog skin conditions atopic dermatitis is one of the most common, affecting around 1 in 10 dogs with varying degrees of severity. It's similar to the skin condition in humans known as eczema, and affected dogs have itchy, red, flaky skin. See the animation for a more detailed explanation of what happens to a dog's skin when it has atopic dermatitis.

Dogs that suffer from atopic dermatitis for a long time may have a low quality of life if the disease is not treated and managed correctly. This means it can be difficult to deal with for pet owners who hate to see their dogs suffering. However, it's also difficult for vets too, because it's a tricky condition that can take weeks and sometimes months to diagnose.

On the positive side there are a number of treatments that can help to relieve a dog's itching from atopic dermatitis. You can read more about these in 'Treating atopic dermatitis'.

If you'd like to know more about dog atopic dermatitis, please click on any of the questions below.

• What causes dog atopic dermatitis?

Dog atopic dermatitis is the result of an animal becoming too sensitive to one or more allergens in the environment, for example

-house dust mites
-pollens
-mould spores
-occasionally foods

It is thought there may be a genetic cause as atopic dermatitis is more common in certain breeds (e.g. Terriers, Retrievers)

Many dogs have a lot of allergies and may even suffer from a combination of atopic dermatitis and other allergies, for example flea allergy.

When there are a lot of allergens in the environment signs of atopic dermatitis can suddenly get a lot worse or ‘flare up’, just like humans getting an attack of hayfever in the summer.

Causes>>


• What are the symptoms of dog atopic dermatitis?

At first you may only notice that your dog is scratching occasionally, or has red areas of skin. Over time the scratching becomes worse and skin damage starts to appear.

This is often on their
-face
-around their mouth
-eyes and
-inside their ear flaps
They also start on their
-feet
-in the crooks of their joints
-'armpits' and
-around their groin area

A common sign is brown saliva staining of the hair, especially on the feet and around the joints such as front of elbows, caused by the dog's licking. In some dogs the only sign is repeated ear infections.

Eventually, the scratching becomes constant and your dog may even start to hurt itself - as s/he claws and scratches at their skin, they cause wounds and start to develop bacterial and/or yeast infections. As time passes your dog may start to lose its hair, and the skin may get leathery looking and discoloured.

Symptoms>>

• Which dogs are most likely to get atopic dermatitis?

Signs of atopic dermatitis usually first appear between 6 months and 3 years of age, but older dogs can be affected too.
Any breed of dog may be affected by atopic dermatitis, but some are thought to be more commonly affected then others.

These include
-Terriers, especially West Highland White Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers
-Boxers
-Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers
-German Shepherds

Breeds>>

• What do dogs with atopic dermatitis look like?

Choose a category from those available in the Gallery to view images related to that dog skin condition.

Gallery>>


• How is dog atopic dermatitis diagnosed?

To start a discussion with your vet, try this quick test. You can print the results and take them to your dog's next veterinary appointment.
How to diagnose>>

Strepsils introduces new product called Strepsils Warm

If you have a sore throat already, to make yourself and your throat feel better there are some options you can try:-
• Drink plenty of warm liquids to keep your level of body fluids up
• Try to breathe through your nose. If your nose feels congested, inhaling the steam from a bowl of hot water will help it to clear or look for a lozenge which also offers a decongestant
• Try to avoid alcohol. The idea that alcohol 'disinfects' the throat is unfortunately a myth! In fact, drinking alcohol is much more likely to irritate than soothe a sore throat
• Swallow - it might hurt but its one of the best things you can do because saliva is a natural lubricant so it helps soothe a sore throat
• Sucking an effective medicated lozenge can help lubricate the lining of the throat further bringing real, noticeable relief. And if you choose one from the Strepsils range, rest assured that it can keep working, even after the lozenge has gone. Check out the Strepsils range to find a suitable remedy for you.

Treating your throat>>

Research shows 86% of people want to feel warm and comforted when suffering with a sore throat, so the team at Strepsils developed Strepsils Warm lozenges. The unique formulation of ginger spice, wasabi, fruity plum and soothing cream provide a comforting, warming sensation, whilst the two antiseptic ingredients (2,4 - Dichlorobenzyl alchohol 1.2mg, and Amylmetacresol 0.6mg) help relieve the symptoms of a bacterial throat infection and soothe the recovery process.
They are suitable for adults and children over six years. You dissolve one lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2-3 hours. No more than 12 lozenges per 24 hours. Do not exceed the stated dose.
Strepsils Warm Lozenges are available in pack sizes of 10, 16 and 36 lozenges.
Always read the label.

Strepsils Warm>>

Alchemy Interactive - Top 10 points to choosing a Web Design Agency

There are lots of web design agencies out there, but how can you narrow this down to a few most suitable agencies? We’ve put together the top 10 key points to look for when choosing a new web design agency.

1. Check out the agency's track record

It’s important to always check the portfolio / case studies of the web design agencies you are considering. Do you recognise the company names? Do a Google search and check that the companies exist and have the same website that the agency designed. Do you like the website designs they have produced? Ask yourself: Are they user friendly designs? Do they represent the brand / company well? Would you use this website? Do they have experience of website design in your field? Do the website's meet their objectives?

Also, ask the web agency if they can send you references or testimonials from customers. And when you get these testimonials, make sure you check them out. Call the clients up and check that the testimonials are real.
Finally, ask how long the agency has been running. Age doesn't always matter, but it does help.

2. Availability - Ask about who would be looking after your account

Everyone has heard the stories of the ‘unavailable’ web design agency, so make sure you get a phone number not just an email address (and not a premium rate number either). Ask the design agency what the turnaround time is for responding to emails. Remember if you have urgent changes you need to be able to through to the design agency as quickly as possible.

At Alchemy not only do we have a great creative team to design your website, but we have a dedicated account management team. There is always someone on the other end of the phone who's up to speed about your website strategy who can give you a progress report and answer any queries you may have.

3. Find out how big the team is

You want your web design agency to be big enough to ensure that if your account manager is off sick or on holiday your business is not forgotten.
Do you prefer a larger, higher resourced agency or a smaller, more flexible agency? The general rule would be to find a web agency that reflects the size of tasks and projects you require. If you have 5000 employees but your actual marketing and development requirements are reasonably low, you are only likely to need an agency of 5-10 employees. If you have 100 employees, but you are heavily reliant on outsourced projects, a larger agency may be more suitable.

Ultimately, you need to find the right size company for your needs.

4. Age of agency

Age doesn't always matter, but in this industry it can be an important factor. The web has seen many changes in a relatively short space of time, if a website design agency has been in business for five or more years it have obviously been managed well. The internet has seen the boom and bust of many company's; those that live to tell the tale are obviously being run well.


5. Are the staff Approachable and professional?

It's important that you connect with the people managing your account. The best results will be created when you create a partnership with your web agency.
Do they provide you with a generic quote of do they talk to you to find out more about your business? Do they use a lot of jargon or explain things clearly? Have they taken the time to tailor their offerings to you? Are there suggestions relevant and suitable for your business? Far too often, company's try to sell you products that you don't need.

Ask if your website will be used in the portfolio on the web design agency's site? At Alchemy we ask all our clients if we can add their website to our design portfolio.

6. Check out the agency's terms and conditions

This is quite important and helps avoid problems further down the line. Ask questions such as:
• Are there any hidden costs, like set up fees or holding fees?
• Can you make staged payments for your web project?
• Are updates and maintenance included in the website design fees?
• Are bug fixes charged for?
• Will you get a copy of the source files?
• Who owns the source code?
• Are the files back-up?

At Alchemy we believe you should be able to see exactly what it is you are getting when you commence your project. That’s why all or costs are itemised and we give our clients the source files to their websites.

7. Capabilities

Find out what the capabilities of the agency are. Often, it's helpful to get the CV's of all staff employed. Quite often, agencies will have a bias of some kind. The best agencies will have a balance of online marketing, development and creative.
If you have specific requirements - make a list and ask the agency what their proficiency is in the specific skills.

8. Do they outsource their work?

Check to see if your project will be developed in house or if it will be outsourced. Ask to meet the design or technical team. If work is going to be outsourced, find out where, are you able to contact the team? There are many cases of company's who have an account management team, and an outsourced development team. The problem with this scenario is the quality of the work produced. Does the account management team check the back end code? Does it meet current guidelines and legal requirements?

At Alchemy we will provide you with a dedicated product team who will look after all your needs. You can meet everyone who will be working on your project, so you can be assured they understand the needs of your web project. We complete all our work in house and have tight quality control regulations so you can be assured of top quality website design, development and online marketing.

9. Do they provide balanced approach to online marketing as well as web design?

What other services to the web design agency offer? Do they have experience of search engine marketing? Will they build the site to maximise search engine performance? Have they done online marketing before?

Alchemy have been running search engine marketing and online marketing campaigns since the company was founded in 1998. We are familiar with all the tried and tested techniques and are at the cutting edge of new trends.

10. Is their work coded to the best coding standards?

Does the site meet the W3C guidelines? What browsers does the web agency test their work in?
It’s important that you’re site be developed to the best possible standard, best practice is to ensure all sites are DDA compliant and built to W3C guidelines, meaning your site will be accessible to all.
Gone are the days of one browser, there are now a plethora of internet browsers available, including Internet Explorer, Chrome, Fire Fox, and Safari. It’s important to ensure your site can be viewed properly in all of these browsers.
At Alchemy we ensure all of the websites we build are DDA compliant and we offer cross browsers support, so the way you see your site is the way your users will see it, regardless of the browser they are using.

AlchemyUK.com>>

Itchfreepet.com launches a new pet health site which offers skin allergy advice for dog owners.

Itch, itch, bite, scratch, chew... sound familiar?
http://www.itchfreepet.com

It's miserable owning an itchy dog. So Itchfreepet have launched a site which will give pet owners access to information about what causes dogs to itch and, most importantly, what to do about it. You can help your dog feel comfortable again.
One of the most common causes of itching in dogs is a condition called 'atopic dermatitis' which is similar to eczema in people. The first signs of atopic dermatitis are that you may notice that your dog is scratching occasionally, or has red areas of skin. Over time the scratching becomes worse and skin damage starts to appear. This is often on their face, around their mouth, eyes and inside their ear flaps. They also start on their feet, in the crooks of their joints, 'armpits' and around their groin area.

A common sign is brown saliva staining of the hair, especially on the feet and around the joints such as front of elbows, caused by the dog's licking. In some dogs the only sign is repeated ear infections.
Eventually, the scratching becomes constant and your dog may even start to hurt itself - as s/he claws and scratches at their skin, they cause wounds and start to develop bacterial and/or yeast infections. As time passes your dog may start to lose its hair, and the skin may get leathery looking and discoloured.

You can view pictures of dogs with typical symptoms of atopic dermatitis on the site.

Gallery>>

You can read in more detail about this condition, view pictures of other dogs with atopic dermatitis and even try the quick Atopic dermatitis test before you visit your vet.
Itchfreepet have also included a Treatment Journal on their new site. The first few months of your dog’s treatment are vital for developing a successful treatment plan. The Treatment Journal is a useful record of what treatment your dog is receiving and how it is responding.

You can register to start your dog’s Treatment Journal. Then complete the information required for each visit to your vet, remembering that photographs of your dog as it goes through treatment are particularly helpful.

Treatment Journal>>

Direct-to-card printers - Databac is now an authorised reseller for Datacard and Zebra and an International Dealer for Fargo

Databac has six main card printing manufacturers, and their products, available on their site Databac Printers>>> These are Datacard, Magicard, Evolis, Zebra, Fargo and Digital Identification Solutions.

• Datacard desktop card printers offer a reliable, secure and easy way to issue and encode personalised ID cards. Databac is an official distributor of Datacard printers and an approved service centre. The Datacard printers available through Databac are; SP25 Plus, which is a desktop direct-to-card and rewritable printer; SP35 Plus, a desktop direct-to-card printer; SP55 Plus, a single or duplex desktop card printer / encoder; SP75 Plus, which is a desktop card printer / encoder & laminator; SR200, a single-sided, over-the-edge retransfer printer; SR300, a Dual-sided, over-the-edge retransfer printer and RP90 Plus E, a single or duplex retransfer printer. They also stock a whole range of printer ribbons, consumables and accessories.
Datacard>>

• Magicard print full-colour secure cards and can uniquely use Magicard’s patented HoloKote security feature for highly-secure ID cards. HoloKote is an anti-copying watermark printed across the entire card surface. The Magicard printers available include ; Rio 2e, a secure, single sided ID card printing; Tango 2e, a secure, double sided ID card printing; Tango +L, a secure, double-sided card printer and laminator; Prima 3, a reverse-transfer printer for high-volume personalisation; Enduro, a field-upgradeable single to double sided printer; Pronto, a single-feed ID card printer for on-demand applications and Tempo, and easy-to-use, low-cost colour card printer.
Magicard>>

• Evolis has a range of plastic card printers which combines ease of use and speed with flexibility and security. Evolis printers produce cards with a high-quality print finish, with a standard resolution of 300dpi. The printers available in this range are ; Tattoo, a desktop direct-to-card printer for SMEs; Tattoo Rewrite, a desktop monochrome rewritable printer; Pebble, a single-sided desktop card printer; Dualys, a double-sided desktop card printer; Quantum, a high-volume industrial card printer and Securion, a duplex printer/ encoder and laminator.

Evolis>>

• Zebra printers can enable you to personalise and laminate virtually every type of media including blank PVC cards, smart cards and key tags. They come in a range of performance options to address a variety of business needs and can be customised to adapt as your business grows. The Zebra printers available include ; P100i, a value-priced single-sided desktop card printer; P110i / P110m, an affordable single-sided desktop card printer; P120i an affordable double-sided desktop card printer; P330i / P330m, a high-performance single-sided desktop card printer; P430i, a high-performance double-sided desktop card printer; P630i / -LC, a duplex printer / encoder with single-sided lamination and P640i / -LC, a double-sided printer / encoder / laminator.

Zebra>>

• Fargo printers combine ease of use, versatility and reliability. With options like encoding modules and laminators, they can be configured for a range of applications, from photo IDs to biometric smart cards. Fargo printers available through Databac are; C30e / M30e, a desktop direct-to-card and rewritable printer; DTC400e, a desktop direct-to-card and rewritable printer; DTC550 / -LC, a single or duplex desktop card printer / encoder; HDP5000 / -LC, a desktop card printer / encoder & laminator and HDPii, an instant financial card printer encoder.

Fargo>>

• Digital Identification Solutions- a high-performance line of printers which are designed for demanding ID applications including smart card encoding. The inline lamination unit (ILU), and overlamination modules (OLM), protect cards from tampering and damage and extend card life. DIS printers are; DCP 360i, double-sided card printing and lamination; XID 560ie, retransfer printer with single-sided lamination; XID 570ie, a high-speed printer with double-sided lamination and XID 580ie, a high-performance printer with double-sided lamination.

Digital Identifications Solutions>>

The latest printer updates
 Fargo HDP5000, ideal for printing onto technology-rich cards.
 Datacard's new over-the-edge retransfer printers.
 Magicard HoloKote anti-forgery card protection.

World’s most expensive electric violin

One of two bespoke instruments created specifically for Linzi, and her rock-violinist musical partner Ben Lee, is the most expensive electric violin ever created.

Each violin is a customized Bridge electric violin encrusted with 50,000 Swarovski crystals, and each is worth an astonishing $1.5 million. According to Linzi, these violins are incredible, just stunning – the light explodes off the Swarovski crystals. They love the fact that whilst they have become pieces of art, they can still play the songs from our new album Fuse on them.

These functional pieces of art were on display at Harrods until June 2 at the top of the fourth floor Egyptian Escalators.

Press Release

Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee Release Rock Violin Anthems Album.

The duo are virtuoso musicians Linzi Stoppard and Ben Lee who harness their exclusive Swarovski crystal signature Bridge electric violins, seize classic Rock tracks and put them through the FUSE wringer! The duo debuted their, Swarovski-encrusted violins at a exclusive photocall at Harrods.

The critically acclaimed eponymous debut album by FUSE was released in May 2010.
The duo are virtuoso musicians Linzi Stoppard and Ben Lee who harness their exclusive Swarovski crystal signature Bridge electric violins, seize classic Rock tracks and put them through the FUSE wringer!


The results are radical, innovative but loving reinterpretations for violin. The album features 14 incredible tracks including 'Fix You' by Coldplay, Michael Jackson's 'Beat It', 'Glorious' by Andreas Johnson and a stunning blend of the mediaeval 'O Fortuna' from Carmina Burana and Zeppelin's 'Kashmir'.


All tracks have been reworked and reanimated in the unique Fuse way. The duo have had to invent new ways to render melodies that were vocal on the original tracks. Fuse aim to prove that the electric violin can be as versatile as the electric guitar – a valedictory romp through 'I Love Rock N Roll' seems to seal the deal!


As Linzi says, "It's completely fresh, no one thought that what we do was even possible. Everything you hear is violins! The style that we use when we play is more akin to that of a guitar player, with more soul and electricity – literally! We chose work from artists that are huge stadium acts, and that's where we want to be. It is that big and that powerful - get some ear plugs! We specialise in blowing away people's preconceptions."


Fuse are already finding friends in the rock fraternity who appreciate what they do. After raving, "I love what you've done, how did you get that sound?", Francis Rossi appears on the album version of Quo's 'Down Down', Nick Mason of Pink Floyd offered his services as a drummer and Roger Daltrey asked Linzi and Ben to support him!


Linzi and Ben's background is music all the way – though Linzi is also signed to Models 1 and she and Ben have both just become Prince's Trust Ambassadors. With both having had real success individually in their careers thus far and worked with an amazing array of world-beating musical talent, their coming together as FUSE portends something really special.


The sound that FUSE generate takes serious know-how and technical skill and live it is nothing short of incendiary – the violins are generally accompanied by the sound of jaws dropping! 'Crazy Nights' indeed.


What FUSE do can have a truly global appeal; there are no language barriers. Whilst they are very proudly a string band, listeners can sing along to the choruses that we all know. With the release of "FUSE", the duo will be bringing their unique brand of entertainment to a whole new audience, let's hope they are ready!


The Hotly-tipped duo debuted their brand new, million-pound Swarovski-encrusted violins at an exclusive photocall held at Harrods. Linzi Stoppard of FUSE said, “These violins are incredible, just stunning – the light explodes off the Swarovski crystals. We love the fact that whilst they have become pieces of art, we can still play the songs from our new album‘FUSE’ on them.

For more info please see FUSE Official Website...
Press Release

Linzi Stoppard & FUSE Perform At VE Day 65th Anniversary In London

The Royal Albert Hall played host to a memorable concert to mark the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The spectacular event raised money for the British Red Cross - the volunteer-led humanitarian organisation focused on helping people in crisis worldwide. The commemoration was attended by VIP guests including HRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Lady Raine Spencer, HE The Russian Ambassador Yuri Fedotov, Sir Michael Stoute, Jeremy Irons, Maria Shammas MBE, Stephen and Assia Webster, Elizabeth Emanuel, Nancy dell'Olio, Yasmin Mills, Linzi Stoppard, Olivia Inge, Amanda Cronin, James Whale and many others. There were also addresses made by the British Prime Minister, the Russian President and the Russian Prime Minister.

The line-up included performances by some of the UK's biggest rock acts, Jethro Tull and Rick Wakeman who boast combined record sales of over 100 million, as well as "The People's Tenor" Russell Watson, electric violin duo FUSE featuring Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee, R&B star Lemar and actor Jeremy Irons. The programme also featured performances from the world-renowned Alexandrov Red Army Choir, folk-diva Nadezhda Babkina, one of the most popular singers across the former USSR Tamara Gverdsiteli, rock star Alexander Marshall, the young but already acclaimed Kvatro group, the artist Xenia Simonova and Russia's very own Sinatra - Iosif Kobzon.

The event recognised the feat of the Allies and their resistance movements 65 years ago, as well as marking the close relationship between the British Red Cross and Russia. War veterans from Russia, USA and UK were also present at what was a truly remarkable evening.

The concert was followed by a stunning black-tie reception in the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall where VIPs sipped fabulous Stolichnaya vodka cocktails.

The concert was presented by Ensemble Productions. Founded in 1998 by Director Olga Balakleets, Ensemble is a London based company, specialising in organising and promoting classical, jazz, world, pop and rock concerts, opera, ballet and contemporary dance productions in the UK and internationally.

FUSE are virtuoso musicians Linzi Stoppard and Ben Lee who, on their self-titled debut album, harness their bespoke signature Bridge electric violins and take Rock tracks that people love and radically but lovingly reinterpret them. As Linzi says, "It's completely fresh, no one thought that what we do was even possible.

What FUSE do is unique but they feel that the tracks that they reinvent are not untouchable. "We're unafraid to cover classic rock tracks," says Ben. "Don't forget that all "classical" music today is cover versions of music by pop stars from the last 300 years! What we do can have a truly global appeal; there are no language barriers. Whilst we're a string band, people can sing along to the choruses that we all know".

FUSE's eponymous debut album is out on Universal / Edel Records.

http://www.fuseofficial.com

More info>>>

Linzi Stoppard Launches The Most Expensive Electric Violin In The World At Harrods, London

Electric violinist Linzi Stoppard from esteemed duo FUSE gives classical music 1 million rock-n-roll makeover with the exclusive Swarovski crystal encrusted FUSE Signature violins at Harrods.

The sparkling violin is one of a pair created by Swarovski for Linzi and her band mate Ben Lee, who make up the rock inspired electric violin act FUSE. Each bespoke Bridge electric violin is encrusted with 50,000 Swarovski crystals, and has a £1million price tag.

Hotly-tipped rock electric violin duo FUSE debuted their brand new, million-pound Swarovski-encrusted violins at an exclusive photo-call held at Harrods to the media.

Following in the footsteps of international superstars Madonna, Michael Jackson and Kylie Minogue, FUSE’s Linzi Stoppard and Ben Lee joined forces with Swarovski to embellish each of their bespoke Bridge instruments with an incredible 50,000 crystals each, every one hand-applied, creating the world’s most expensive electric violins.

Insured for one million pounds each, these are, however, no museum pieces and – whilst there was security in attendance! - the duo played tracks from their forthcoming album ‘FUSE’ on the violins at the photo-call.

Following the photo-call, the instruments were securely and prominently displayed in a case at the top of the fourth floor Egyptian Escalators at Harrods so that members of the public could have a look.

Linzi Stoppard of FUSE said, “These violins are incredible, just stunning – the light explodes off the Swarovski crystals. We love the fact that whilst they have become pieces of art, we can still play the songs from our new album ‘FUSE’ on them.

Swarovski is currently aligned with Madonna and Beyonce, with Fuse being the only string act on their books.

David Miller, Director of Harrods Home commented “We are delighted to welcome FUSE to our world-famous store to celebrate the launch of their debut album.” He went on to say “Harrods is renowned for enhancing its customers’ shopping experience’ and added ‘On this occasion, our customers will have the chance to catch a glimpse of these extraordinary masterpieces which will be exhibited on the fifth floor of the iconic Egyptian Escalators until 2nd June".

FUSE are virtuoso musicians who harness their bespoke signature electric violins and take Rock tracks that people love and radically but lovingly reinterpret them. As Linzi says, “It’s completely fresh, no one thought that what we do was even possible.
What FUSE do is unique but they feel that the tracks that they reinvent are not untouchable. “We’re unafraid to cover classic rock tracks,” says Ben. “Don’t forget that all “classical” music today is cover versions of music by pop stars from the last 300 years! What we do can have a truly global appeal; there are no language barriers. Whilst we’re a string band, people can sing along to the choruses that we all know”.

For more information visit www.linzistoppard.com
Linzi Stoppard Press Release

Senokot.IE offers downloadable leaflets

Constipation can really impact on your quality of life.... In a recent nationwide survey conducted by the Digestive Fitness Information Bureau, 65% of those surveyed stated discomfort, fatigue and skin complaints as symptoms they associated with constipation, with one in four women stating irritability as a symptom of constipation.

Some digestive disorders may be brought on by, or made worse by stress. In addition having a sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption and lack of fluid intake on a daily basis can all have a negative impact on your digestive fitness.


Find out how you can improve your digestive fitness by using our fact sheets>>>

Electric Violinist And Model Linzi Stoppard Fits Right In Next To World's Super Cars

Now firmly established as one of the ‘must attend’ summer events, Salon Privé this year features an even more valuable collection of classic cars, even rarer super cars, and even more valuable luxury goods, all openly and elegantly displayed on the lawns of the Club.

Linzi Stoppard Headlines At Super Car Salon Prive Gala.

Linzi performed two sets, the first set more mellow to kick off the evening in some style. Linzi was elegantly dressed in a white sequinned show stopping number.
The second set was more rock ending on a fantastic version of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain which is used as the F1 soundtrack worldwide. This time Linzi mixed it up with the 'rock chick' look and had the audience applauding on their feet.

Salon Privé is the UK’s ultimate Super Car Event and Concours d’Elégance. Salon Privé offers a unique opportunity to see the most exotic modern and vintage super cars in the world, with the exquisite and exclusive Hurlingham Club as a backdrop. A “Garden Party” atmosphere infuses the event during the day, and in the evenings, the stunning grounds and super cars are subtly lit, transforming the event into a magical spectacle.

Aston Martin, Audemars Piguet, Audi, BMW, Boodles, Jaguar, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Sportec, Thomas Lyte and Vermot are just a few of the brands that take part.

Linzi Stoppard is currently in the studio with her electric violin duo FUSE finishing off their debut album. Taking inspiration from their classical roots while combining it with modern well known melodies. FUSE believe it is possible to narrow the gap between the classical and pop audiences. Their repertoire includes contemporary arrangements of well known hits and film sound tracks.
FUSE are the 'face of' the new international classical chillout music video channel, C Music TV, which they launched at the Cannes MIP Television Festival.
Children’s charity CLIC Sargent have approached FUSE to front their national Practice-a-thon campaign aimed at encouraging kids to pick up a musical instrument while raising money for the cause through sponsored practice. FUSE’s dynamic and innovative approach to what is largely regarded as a marginalised instrument means FUSE are uniquely positioned to appeal to the younger and mainstream audiences.

FUSE's debut album...Linzi and Ben decided to use their classical training and roots to reinvent what is largely regarded as a traditionally classical instrument. They spent weeks rehearsing and experimenting with new and different recording style - the results are spellbinding. Their debut album is breaking a new violin dawn by using the most up to date technique usually associated with rock guitar - sound processing, multiple effects and amps. The FUSE album will be the benchmark for a new breed of electric violinists and tipped to be the world's first true Super String Group.


For more information check out>>>>

World Class Electric Violinist Linzi Stoppard Launches Multi-Million Dollar Hotel on London's Park Lane From THE ROOF TOPS!

Despite being terrified of heights, Linzi Stoppard, the contemporary electric violinist daughter-in-law of playwright Sir Tom, braved the roof of the InterContinental Park Lane for a spectacular performance to mark the hotel’s official reopening.

She played renditions of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and samples of music from the film Harry’s Game and Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child, stopping traffic in its tracks on the glamorous West End streets below.

To celebrate $170M refurbishment to the InterContinental Park Lane electric string artist Linzi Stoppard also headlines the opening gala to a celebrities packed audience and InterContinental executives from all around the world.

The renamed InterContinental London Park Lane has completed the multi-million dollar refurbishment to reinvigorate one of London’s finest hotels and to position it as a global flagship for InterContinental Group. Now fully open, the hotel boasts luxurious new guest rooms and spectacular suites including the famous Cinema Suite, new destination restaurants Theo Randall at The InterContinental and Cookbook Cafe, contemporary event space and the chic urban Spa InterContinental. With a passionate team and an ‘in the know’ service culture; ITC ensure that their guests enjoy a truly authentic London experience.

InterContinental London Park Lane recently unveiled its new meetings and event space following a much talked about refurbishment. Located on the mezzanine level, the events floor provides a space to host any event, however spectacular or discreet. Offering a spectacular ballroom, six event suites and six meeting spaces, InterContinental London Park Lane has created London’s premier event address.

When Linzi and her rock violin duo FUSE were approached by CLIC SArgent to front their national Practice-a-thon campaign the ITC ballroom was the perfect venue to showcase exclusively commissioned FUSE tracks and launch the competition to media.

Following Linzi enviable solo career she teamed up with fellow electric violinist Ben Lee to form the powerhouse of contemporary violin - new rock electric violin band FUSE, and they will be launching their debut album in the Spring 2010.

Taking inspiration from their classical roots while combining it with modern well known melodies. FUSE believe it is possible to narrow the gap between the classical and pop audiences,. Their repertoire includes contemporary arrangements of well known hits and rock anthems. FUSE are the 'face of' the new international classical chillout music video channel, C Music TV, which they launched at the Cannes MIP Television Festival.

For more information please visit>>>>

For other press releases>>>>

In Front Of The World Famous Ritz Hotel Linzi Stoppard's Rocking Performance Kicks Off The New Year

Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee of string super group FUSE began the New Year as the opening act for the New Year’s Day London Parade immediately after the Queen’s New Year message. Their performance was covered by 24 US TV stations including national networks CBS and NBC, Sky, Reuters broadcast to more than 300 million viewers on 750 international TV stations around the world.

The Parade began at 12 Noon on Piccadilly at the junction with Berkeley Street outside the Ritz Hotel where FUSE kicked off the parade with a rendition of their upcoming debut single 'Glorious' and ended the set with Michael Jackson's 'Beat It'

The Parade then started through the streets of Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Parliament Street.

More than 10,000 performers representing 20 countries world-wide assembled for the Parade.

Crowds of more than half a million attended and lined up London's most famous streets to see the fantastic spectacular as it wove its way along the 2 mile route.

3 hours of Live Satellite Coverage was beamed around the world. Major broadcasters such as the BBC, CNN, Fox news, SKY and CBS covered the event.

FUSE is electric violinists Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee, the Prince and Princess of the rock violin world. When Ben and Linzi set out to break the mould and push the boundaries they realised they had two choices: to be followers or to show the way with initiative. The latter was the only real option.

While following their instincts the band recognised their competition had all failed to conquer the same conundrum - how does a new violin act avoid sounding exactly the same as the one before? Other string acts call themselves electric but often record using acoustic instrument or with no effects which limits them sonically.

This narrow path leads to most violin / cross-over string acts covering the same music again and again and in the same style. Not so with FUSE - the answer to the conundrum was a fresh progressive approach using the most up to date techniques, original guitar valve amps, sonic processors and of course their bespoke gold Bridge electric violins - the FUSE sound was born.

Never before has an electric string group dared ventured into the world of electric guitars like FUSE in 2010 - it's a first. Don't be fooled by the incredible guitar-like sounds, arrangements, techniques and solos - these are not guitars you are listening to but electric violins FUSE-STYLE.
For more information visit MYSPACE FUSEMusic>>>

FOr more information visit http://www.myspace.com/fusemusic

Nurofen for Children offer Free Downloads

In those early few months and years your baby will learn and discover more than at any time in their life. The first smile, the first tear, the first tumble, the first crawl, the first steps, the first words – it’s all part of their discover journey. Whilst illness will be part and parcel of your baby growing up, we know how important it is for them to get better as quickly as possible. After all they don’t want anything to hold them back from their discovery journey.

Nurofen for Children starts to work in just 15 minutes to relieve fever and lasts for up to 8 hours – that's up to 2 hours longer than paracetamol based products. It also treats pain from those little tumbles, earache and relieves the fever associated with teething. Plus it comes with a unique easy dosing device, which helps make giving the correct dose to your child simple.

For further information on teething and childhood illnesses, as well as childhood fever and pain, please download our leaflets:

Nurofen for Children Free Downloads>>>>>

Alchemy Interactive gives Top 10 Tips for Increasing SEO

1. Keyword Research
It is essential when optimising your site, that the content is keyword rich. However, there is little point in writing keyword dense copy if the keywords are not commonly used in search terms.

It is advisable to keep keywords ambiguous when using any SEO tool, e.g. KeywordDiscovery or Google Adwords Keyword Tool. This will allow the SEO tool to return more suggestions, some of which may be surprising, and ones you had not thought of.

SEO tools will also allow you to see the levels of competition for the most popular keywords. This will allow you to optimise your campaign for the most effective keyword use.

2. Link Building
A high Google PageRank is something most sites aim for, and while the algorithm for determining page rank is constantly changing the number and quality of links into your site always features.
We suggest using reputable sites and niche directories to link back to your site. With genuine, relevant content, links back to your site can really boost your site’s PageRank.
Some SEO tools will also allow you to view the number of links your competitor sites contain, this will enable you to make sure you have more valid links therefore it is likely your page rank will increase.

3. Deep Linking
While it is important to have as many good quality relevant links as possible coming into your site, it is equality important that these go to different pages across your site. This will allow you to target more relevant links to each specific page. This will not only improve users experience more but will allow search engines to see that your site has lots of valid content, boosting PageRank. Sites that only have links going to the homepage are often viewed as shallow by search engines, or that the links are not genuine and generated by automation, reducing the sites value.

For the other 7 Top Tips, please click here>>>>

Linzi Stoppard’s Tips to Learn to Play the Electric Violin

Linzi is one of the most coveted, exciting and edgy electric violinists in the world today. Her unique vision to take the traditionally classical instrument to unchartered territory has positioned Linzi at the top of her field. Her intoxicating high impact performances of pop rock has entranced audiences worldwide has allowed Linzi to lead the way as the Princess of the electric violin world.

Did you know Linzi also performs for schoolchildren, at their elementary schools, and inspires them to take up the violin.

Here is her advice:

“The electric violin can be a real alternative to the commonplace guitar. “

She recommends five steps for young people interested in the electric violin. “My five steps are:

1.) Buy yourself a starter electric violin and amp combo from Ebay. check that it works, if you can.

2.) Learn the basics, such as scales, and bowing techniques, from a couple of How to Play the Violin books, and DVD’s.

3.) Sign up through a local college for some group violin lessons, and mix with like-minded people.

4.) Use your musical influences to experiment and develop your own sounds.

5.) Never stop believing in yourself, and take every opportunity to get out thee, and play live. If I can do it, you can!”

Book a performance by Linzi Stoppard >>>

Famed electronic rock violinist Linzi Stoppard opens Puma's new French 77 Collection model show

Music stars gathered with sporting heroes at London's famous Claridges Ballroom for an exclusive 'Playboy Party', to celebrate the launch of Puma's new French 77 Collection.

Famed electronic rock violinist Linzi Stoppard opened the model show with a dazzling virtuoso display, dressed head to toe in a sassy French 77 outfit. In the Autumn of 2009 Linzi Stoppard alongside her fellow violinist Ben Lee signed a major global record deal as string super group FUSE, and they are releasing their debut album in Spring 2010.

FUSE spent many weeks locked away in rehearsal rooms creating their own unique distinctive sound, purposely staying away from the over crowded classical cross-over cliche and ventured where no string group has dared venture before - ROCK.

Described as the "first string group to challenge convention" and "raising the benchmark for electric groups around the world" they are passionate to show a new generation that the instrument is more than the classical stereo-type. Indeed it can oppose the more common place guitar for versatility.

MOBO winning star Sway, Nate James and Mike Skinner's protégé rapper Example joined FUSE and sport stars such as Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg and rugby star Paul Sackey for the party with the catwalk supermodels.

The event featured an exclusive catwalk show, with guests such as pop singer Lemar and Leah Wood modelling Puma's new range.

Pop singer Lemar made a surprise appearance as a runway model at the event for the new Puma range. He told Sound Generator "It is weird to be on stage in front of a crowd and not performing music, but it was fun, I love fashion so it is cool, the look is very natural, the kind of thing I would usually wear so it was an easy job!"

The French 77 range covers everything from cool sports apparel to classy items and the night attracted a wide range of guests from the fashion, TV, music and film world. The stars danced the night away to a set from renowned super-DJ D

The French 77 footwear, apparel and accessories showcase the signature blend of sport and fashion that has come to epitomise PUMA’s design direction. Reminiscent of pure Heritage pieces of the seventies, new interpretations of “court classics” with a modern twist address the need for modern, fashionable attire for men and women both on and off the court.

Tennis-inspired detailing and graphics from this era are mixed with modern street-wear style and twenty-first century materials to create fashion-forward looks with the comfort of casual sports apparel


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Electric String Quartet