SKINCARE specialist Dermasalve has sealed a deal with pregnancy and parenting group Bounty to market its products.

Baby care products made by the Newcastle company will be promoted through Bounty's website to its network of more than 12,000 maternity and healthcare professionals.

The deal comes only days after Dermasalve announced a £5m-a-year distribution contract with South African sales and marketing organisation New Horizons for its SafeCleanse hand gel, which combats bird flu and HIV viruses.

Dr Mark Randle, the County Durham GP who set up Dermasalve in 2003, said the deal would offset pre-tax losses recorded last year.

"Bounty is very supportive of our sensitiser-free formula, and feels that its audience will welcome information on the range, which can be passed on to the 750,000 new mothers," he said.

In June, the company reported pre-tax losses of £2.95m for the year to December 31.