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During the month of February 2013, Health Sector TV will broadcast ‘Feet First in the NHS’ - a new documentary highlighting why foot problems can affect anyone who has diabetes on the Health Channel. LaCorium Health, manufacturers of the therapeutic range of Flexitol skincare products are delighted to have had the opportunity to participate and contribute. Click here to watch now.

People with diabetes are at increased risk of peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy, as well as having a higher risk of developing infections and decreased ability to clear infections. Therefore, people with diabetes are prone to frequent and often severe foot problems and a relatively high risk of infection, gangrene and amputation.

It is important to understand how foot problems develop and how they can be prevented or detected early so that they can be treated successfully.

In this programme presented by Georgina Burnett we look at the latest innovations in diabetic foot care and hear the views of family GP and television personality Dr Chris Steele, Dr Hugh Simpson (Centre for Diabetes, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust), John Grumitt (Vice-President, International Diabetes Federation) and Professor Michael Edmunds (Podiatry Consultant, Kings College Hospital).

In the runup to christmas, Specialist Nurses at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital hosted a a Christmas tea party for patients from the local community. We were proud to support this event and as always had information on dry skin conditions, samples of Flexitol to hand for those attendees suffering from dry skin conditions. It's always great to spend time with people who have used our products. It's wonderful as always to hear how well they've worked.

Here is another great review for Flexitol Heel Balm that we really wanted to share with you: "I purchased Zim's Crack Creme for Heels and Feet and Flexitol Heel Balm at the same time. I used each on separate feet for several days twice a day to compare their results. Prior, I have very dry, very rough, very cracked heels. Both made some difference, but I found the Flexitol Heel Balm more effective with my dry feet in a short time. Some of the cracks are still pretty deep on both feet, but neither heel is rough anymore. The noticeable difference is that the Zim's Crack Creme heel was still a bit dry, whereas the Flexitol heel really wasn't.I am not sure if it's related to performance, but the Flexitol is a thicker lotion than the Zim's Crack Creme. I've seen some comments about the smell. They have a strong smell and its not great smell but I didn't find it horribly offensive. (I wasn't able to place the smell.) Finally, neither seemed to work as well when I just put the lotion on them; I found it more effective when I put the lotion, then put socks on (even at night)." To see the original article, click here.

LaCorium Health recently attended a Diabetes UK patient awareness day at a community centre in Newcastle in the UK. Diabetes UK are the UK’s leading diabetes charity, caring for, connecting with and campaigning for all people affected by and at risk of the condition. The Mayor & Mayoress of Newcastle paid a visit to the Flexitol stand and took away some samples and information. They were kind enough to pose for a photo for with their Flexitol bags of goodies.

October has been a very busy month and Flexitol has been present at exhibitions the length and breadth of the UK. As always, the range of Flexitol products has been extremely well received by attendees of these exhibitions. We have attended, to name a few, the British Lymphoedema Society (Cardiff), The British Chiropody and Podiatry Association Convention (Oxford) and the Royal Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists exhibition in Glasgow. Whilst a full write up of the BCPA event will be published soon on the BCHA website. We can share with you now that once again, Flexitol has been very well recieved. It is common for the general public to assume that Chiropody or podiatry covers only the foot, however, this does extend to the lower leg too. Dry skin conditions plague many of the clients seen by these foot specialists, and not only was Flexitol Heel Balm very well received; Moisturising Foot Cream, a 10% urea cream in a highly moisturising emollient base was another star of the shows. Attendees at these events are always looking for new products and presentations to help them better serve the needs of their individual patients and clients and the number of visitors to our stands kept us busy over the exhibition period.

Once again, mumsnet is the place to go for advice about dry skin as a result of regular hand washing. "Can anyone recommend a hand cream, preferable cheap good value and one that does the job. I wash my hands regularly, unlike 38% of women apparently but this leaves me with dry flaky nails and hands that resemble a 90 year old. Is there one you can't live without? If so, please share. I'm going to treat myself to a full-on hand pamper later!" As with community discussion boards, many members have different experiences, and prefer different products. We were pleased to note that Flexitol once again had a presence in the mix of responses to this particular query. See this conversation string in full

The  trend of getting advice from people in an online setting is growing. If the answer isn't immediately obvious through search engine results, more and more people are looking to their online community members for advice on products and services that work (or not) and recommendations based on personal experience. Mumsnet.com is no different. The site was established the year 2000 when a mum embarked on a disastrous family holiday. The idea was to create a website where parents could swap advice about not just holidays but all the other stuff parents talk about. Thirteen years later this site is one of the UK’s busiest social network for parents, generating nearly 50 million page views per month and nearly 7 million visits per month. Flexitol is mentioned periodically on this site too. In particular a discussion thread which simply asked... "There was a thread recently where a few people mentioned a good cream for dry heels. Does anyone know what this was? Or can recommend a good one? Many thanks." The response (a mere 4 minutes later) was "I use Flexitol and if I put it on every night before bed then it does definitely help." See for yourself

It is not uncommon for Flexitol to get a blog mention. It's a product that is often reviewed by people who are looking for products for specific issues they may be facing. In this blog Flexitol Heel Balm is referred to as 'a specialist over-the-counter moisturiser'. Flexitol Heel Balm is suitable for use as part of a general footcare regime. It is also suitable for use by diabetic patients, who are encouraged to look after their feet as part of the growing concerns related to amputation rates in the UK. This particular blog is made up of articles written by experts in their profession, and the footcare article we refer to has been written by a Chiropodist / Podiatrist with over 12 years experience. Read full article

London was home to the Olympic games in 2012. Our timing couldn't have been better, and Flexitol television commercials ran during this extremely exciting time in the UK. Flexitol adverts continued to be seen by millions. Not only did this raise the brand awareness amongst viewers living in the UK, it also meant that Flexitol gained exposure to some to the 3 million foreign visitors during this great sporting event.

DebRA is a national charity in the UK providing support to individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). EB is likely to affect 1 in 17,000 live births and it is estimated that there are currently 5,000 people with the condition in the UK. Each year DebRA arrange various events to raise much needed funds which go towards the valuable support that they offer. Last week, during the London-Paris Cycle Registration day, the next DebRA Surrey Cycle was promoted and recruitment started for this 2013 event. We had the opportunity to provide samples of Flexitol Very Dry Skin Cream to use as an aid to creating interest in the stand and event registration. We have been told that this event went well and the Flexitol VDS was very well received by those who signed up.

It's no secret that the Flexitol range of products are an effective solution for dry skin conditions. From picking the product up in a retail setting to discussing prescription options with a healthcare professional, product selection is undoubtedly a personal choice. Consumers (and patients) are increasingly informed and take a more active role in the management of their health issues, including those related to the skin. This is not surprising, given surveys suggesting that around 54% of the UK population experience a skin condition in a given twelve month period. The Flexitol range of products is widely available in retail and select products have been accepted for prescription. Nurses play an extremely important role in the management of long term conditions, and our presence at the Royal College of Nursing exhibition in Harrogate reminded them that Flexitol is suitable for the relief of symptoms associated with dry skin conditions such as Dermatitis, Eczema and Psoriasis as well as dry foot conditions associated with diabetes. Ichthyosis refers to a relatively uncommon group of skin disorders characterized by the presence of excessive amounts of dry surface scales. It is thought to be as common as 1 in 250 individuals in a UK population and as with many skin disorders, support groups often provide a much-needed network for individuals. We recently attended a Ichthyosis Family Day where we gave out samples of Flexitol Skin Balm. In turn, we learned more about the condition that is a huge part of the every day lives of the patients and carers who attended. With patients in mind, we teamed up with Kings College in London to provide support to diabetic patients and their carers. It was an informative day focusing on the management of diabetes and the check points that should be a part of every individual diabetic management programme. With Flexitol Heel Balm suitable for use by diabetic patients, we were able to contribute to the informative element of the day by raising the awareness of the importance of good foot care. Foot Health 2012 offered health professionals the opportunity to update their practice with first class presentations by key note speakers. In addition, a trade exhibition supported by market leaders in the industry enabled attendees to keep up to date with product developments, not least of which was the Flexitol range.

Verité Reily Colins writes about product that she finds useful. As a cancer survivor, Verité is passionate about sharing her thoughts and opinions with other cancer sufferers. Her latest blog (April 2012) mentions Flexitol Blistop in association with exercise advice. To quote: "Incidentally, the wonderful people who make Flexitol have come up with Blistop – which does what it says on the label – stops blisters. Use it before you start serious running during training, and it forms a ’skin’ on top to prevent blisters forming. Simples!" The blog can be found by following this link.

Donning the correct footwear when running is important, as is maintaining the good foot health for hard-working feet. An article which puts socks on test in the March edition of Runners World, also has some product recommendations to keep feet in tip- top condition. One of these products is Flexitol Blistop - which is recommended for use "before a long run to guard against those pesky blisters".

February 2012 saw Flexitol 'For the girls' launched in Ireland. With updated, attractive and eye-catching packaging, this product is firmly aimed at ladies who would like to avoid uncomfortable blisters from footwear.

The UK Cosmopolitan magazine periodically provide their readership with discounts and special offers. Over the past 3 months, we've had many people take advantage of the Flexitol 20% discount offer through this magazine, and the ultimate prize of 'An Indulgent Weekend for Two' has now been drawn from the thousands of entries received. Congratulations to Mrs Kay Davey and her husband who were given first class treatment with a Champagne reception upon their arrival at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in London at the end of February. Fine dining and pampering were the order of the day, and Flexitol products were bestowed upon them at various intervals during their stay.

We came to the end of the very successful Flexitol taxi advertising campaign this month. Traditional black taxi cabs had been colourfully and expertly branded with the Flexitol footcare range.  In addition, the lime-green associated with Flexitol Skin Nourishing Oil was extremely eye-catching.  The cabs were also spotted in Birmingham and Manchester during the course of this brand promotion.

Regular foot maintenance ensures ongoing healthy feet and less visits to the podiatrist in the long run. Flexitol Callus Remover Cream contains a blend of hydroxy acids (AHA) aims at softening calluses gradually. It also contains urea which act as a moisturising agent. With visible results in just 7 days is why the product was included as part of '5 of the Best Footcare Aid' in the health section of the Mail on Sunday.

'Bare your feet with confidence'takes on a whole new meaning this weekend in the UK for Anthony Band. BARE to RUN is a charity event organised by Anthony who aims to raise money for the charity Help for Heroes. As if running the length of the UK; from John O’Groats in the north to Lands End in the south isn’t enough of a challenge, he will also be running barefoot.

Barefoot running has become increasingly popular in the last few years, but to date no one has attempted to run this huge distance barefoot. Anthony is aiming to complete the run in 29 days with only 2 stops. The run will begin on Sunday 31st July and should finish on Sunday 28th August. 

LaCorium Health UK are proud to be recognised among Anthony's sponsors for this very exciting and worthwhile challenge. Concerned for the health and well being of his feet and through the provision of Flexitol foot and skincare solutions, we aim to help Anthony achieve his goal. Whilst Anthony's focus will be on the upcoming 1000 miles in 29 days, our focus will be his 2 feet and keeping his skin healthy and hydrated with Flexitol.

The Flexitol Cosmopolitan Special proved very popular with readers of the July 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan. On offer was a range of 6 Flexitol products (Heel Balm, Skin Nourishing Oil, Lip Balm, Very Dry Skin Cream, Blistop, Cuticle & Nail Cream) and love2shop vouchers to 10 lucky winners. The desire to look great and feel fantastic with Flexitol products was immense with over 1000 responses in the first month alone. The offer continues through August and September, and winners will be drawn at the end of each of those months.

In June 2001, Flexitol UK joined Facebook. So often we get great feedback by email and in the post from people who have used products within the Flexitol range.  We wanted to share that feedback, information and images with our followers.  We also wanted to provide a platform through which we could receive communication and feedback, and Facebook does exactly that, in an open and transparent manner. www.facebook.com/flexitol.uk In addition to the Flexitol UK fan page on Facebook, we can be followed on Twitter @flexitoluk.

In this technology age, it is not often that we get a letter by post. We wanted to share a letter received from Mrs Rimmer who had tried Flexitol Heel Balm.  Thank you for taking the time to write to us.

‘Dear Sir/Madam.  I have recently been and bought your product Flexitol and would just like to say I am extremely pleased with the results, after just two to three days I noticed how efficiently it had worked and after continuing use my feet are the best they have been for years.

Having used other products, this is the only one that has given the results that it states on the packaging and I will have no hesitation in recommending it.

Many thanks,
Mrs Rimmer’

Flexitol Naturals Skin Nourishing Oil was the showcase product at the 2011 Baby Show in Birmingham.  A natural solution, with an essential oil base, proved to be popular with attendees.  296 visitors to the Flexitol stand completed a survey, and  it emerged that the top reasons for using a skin oil would be for dehydrated skin (67%) followed by stretchmark appearance/improvement (61%).  Overall, 44% of respondents would use skin oil for scar management. 

When the responses were broken down by age group, 85% of under 25’s completing the survey would use if for stretchmarks, and 60% for scar management.  Respondents aged 25-34 placed equal emphasis on use for stretchmarks and dehydrated skin (67% each). Focus was firmly on dehydrated skin for the 35-44’s and whilst 63% of the 45’s would use skin oil for dehydrated skin, 71% were more concerned with combating the effects of ageing with skin oil.

In May 2011, Prima magazine asked a Consumer Testing Panel, looking for flawless feet – ready for those fabulous summer sandals, to try 6 footcare products.  Flexitol came 2^nd out of the 6 products featured (Original Ped Egg was the winning product).  Kirsten Blackwall from Wiltshire gave Flexitol Heel Balm 9/10.  To quote, 'This product gave amazing results! After just one use, my feet felt soft and looked smoother.  It’s a thick cream that takes a while to be absorbed, but isn’t easy to use just like a moisturiser. It works much better than other products I’ve used and the only reason I’ve not given it full marks is because I wasn’t too keen on the smell.

Sharon Brookshaw from Cheltenham sought the advice of Liz Wilde in the April 2011 through the Real Beauty page in Take a Break magazine. Suffering from dry skin around her heels, Sharon wanted to get her feet fabulous in time for summer. None of the moisturisers Sharon had tried had helped. Liz Wilde went on to recommend Flexitol Heel Balm having received positive feedback from other readers of the page.

Twenty lucky Bodyfit readers won a pack of 4 Flexitol products as advertised in the March edition of Bodyfit. On offer were Flexitol Naturals Skin Nourishing Oil to keep skin hydrated; Flexitol Lip Balm with its rich formula and menthol feel for severely dry lips; Flexitol Heel Balm for sufferers of cracked heels, offering visible results in just three days; and Flexitol Blistop to make blisters a thing of the past.

Another Flexitol product has made an appearance in the March edition of Boots health&beauty magazine.  As one of the ‘Top 5 Feet Treats’ that Boot’s customers have been loving, Cuticle & Nail Cream for feet conditions nails and smoothes dry cuticles.