Skin vitamins

These are produced in the body after exposure to the sun (among other things), and experts believe they play a part in causing premature skin ageing. But antioxidants - including vitamins C and E - are thought to counteract free radicals.

• Get vitamin C from fresh fruit and vegetables including berries, citrus fruits and leafy greens. For vitamin E, add more nuts, seeds and olives to your diet.

Vitamin A, on the other hand, is well established as a wrinkle fighter. Experts also believe that even a slight drop in levels of this nutrient can result in dry, flaky skin.

• Vitamin A foods include fruits and veg such as spinach, red peppers, watercress, mangoes and tomatoes, with larger amounts found in foods such as liver, butter and margarine.

The most important B vitamin where skin health is concerned is biotin, which also promotes healthy hair and nails.

• Find biotin in bananas, oats, rice, nuts and egg yolks.

Minerals that help with skin health include selenium (found in whole grains, seafood, eggs, Brazil nuts and garlic) and zinc (yeast, Quorn, oysters, cashew nuts and pumpkin seeds).

Meanwhile other nutrients that are thought to help keep your skin in good condition include essential fatty acids, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids found mostly in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, pilchards and trout. Dry skin, for instance, may be a sign of omega-3 deficiency. If you don't like eating fish, ask your pharmacist to recommend a good-quality omega-3 fish oil supplement.

You may also want to consider boosting your intake of all the vitamins you need by taking a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement. Your pharmacist can recommend one that's right for you.