Used alone, Cellex-C is not an appropriate beach product. Extra Protection with Vitamin E Like vitamin C , vitamin E is a free radical scavenger. In fact, it's even effective if you apply it a half-day later, say researchers at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, but it's better to do it as soon as possible. In studies using laboratory animals, the researchers found that vitamin E acetate, which converts to vitamin E in the body, prevented inflammation, skin sensitivity and skin damage when applied up to eight hours following UVB exposure. But if you fall asleep in the sun and start to get a sunburn that you want to prevent from getting worse, vitamin E oil is a good idea.
Vitamin E can also work from the inside out.
As an oral supplement, it can significantly reduce the inflammation and skin damage caused by sun exposure, says Karen E. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologic surgeon and dermatologist in private practice in New York City. To boost your intake of vitamin E , try cooking with sunflower oil or safflower oil and adding more nuts, whole grains and wheat germ to your daily fare. These products contain the ester form of vitamin E , which can cause allergies, and they're not very effective in reducing sun damage, says Dr. Burke. Prescriptions for Healing Unlike the usual prescriptions, wearing your nutrients is often better than taking them when it comes to sunburn. Here are the doses that some doctors say work best against sun damage.