You've probably noticed the variety of skin creams that include derivatives of vitamin A (as in Retin-A products). But vitamin A derivatives are now showing up in sunscreens, because the sun robs your skin of vitamin A.

Bain de Soleil says the combination of the sun and the use of a product with vitamin A won't irritate the skin because sunblocks screen out UV rays so that this won't happen.

How much is enough?
Sunscreens and sunblocks are effective. Bain de Soleil says, The problem is how most of us use them. We don't apply enough, and we don't apply them as often as we should. Be generous when you apply them. Perspiration and swimming will dilute or erase the product.

What's done is done
Sun damage can't be reversed at the moment, although some creams manage to soften or temporarily diminish minor wrinkles. The goal for the scientists is to develop products that ultimately reverse sun damage.
There are interesting projects in the pipeline in U.S. and European laboratories and early tests are promising. There are even signs that there are some proteins that will destroy pre-cancerous cells.

All of this is still in the future, so the clear message, for now, is to eat nutritious foods, use sunblocks and screens, and keep  abreast of new developments.

The Right Foods Help
Antioxidant foods are a secret worth knowing if you want to protect your skin.  Research is beginning to show that these foods (with antioxidants beta-carotene, lycopene and vitamins E and C) increase the melanin in your skin. (Melanin is the pigment that turns your skin brown and it's also your defense against sun damage.)  Free radicals or oxidants are made when the sun attacks the skin, and the right foods help limit the damage. So load up on tomatoes, carrots and broccoli.