In general, vitamin C is important for keeping the skin younger look­ing, recommends a safe daily vitamin C intake of about 300 to 500 milligrams to maintain skin quality.

Studies have shown that just a minimal amount of ultraviolet rays can deplete exposed skin of vitamin C by 30 percent. Exposure to the ozone in a polluted city can decrease levels of vitamin C by as much as 55 percent. Med­ical researchers have also found vitamin C to be of some help when applied topically. It has been shown to significantly reduce the amount of so-called free radical damage that occurs from sun exposure. Free radicals are naturally occurring unstable molecules that steal electrons from the body’s healthy mol­ecules to balance themselves. Unchecked, they can cause significant tissue damage.

Antioxidants—vitamin C is one—neutralize free radicals by offering their own electrons and so protect healthy molecules from harm.

Since vitamin C prevents skin damage from sun exposure, it’s reason­able to suspect that it can also prevent the consequences of that damage, including wrinkling and age spots,” says reseracher.

One such topical vitamin C product is Cellex-C, which is available in a 10 or 17 percent vitamin C lotion or cream. It can be purchased without a prescription from dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and licensed aestheticians (full-service beauty salon operators) and by mail order from Cellex-C Inter­national. For optimum sun protection, the product should be applied once a day along with a sunscreen, according to doctor, whose patented technology led to the development of Cellex-C.

But as we age, many of us do begin to see spots, especially on our hands, feet, and face.

And whether we call them liver spots, age spots, or sun spots, the reac­tion is likely the same: We want a spot remover.

Technically known as lentigines, age spots are the result of excess pig­ment being deposited in the skin during years of sun exposure. So along with treatment, dermatologists also recommend avoiding exposure to the sun.

Though the majority of age spots are harmless blemishes/that require no more than a trip to the dermatologist, early stages of skin cancer can masquerade as innocent-looking age spots. If any spot enlarges, thickens, changes color, has an uneven rather than a round edge, bleeds, or itches, have it checked by a doctor. For extra protection, also include a skin exami­nation in your annual checkup.

The good news is, if your spots really are just age spots, dermatologists today have an assortment of treatments at their disposal that can fade them, if not remove them completely. These include topical application of a vita­min A acid called retinoic acid.