Whether you like it or not, Crow’s Feet can occur at any age. Having no control over deep wrinkles can shake your confidence — but we can change that!
There are loads of treatment options that will enhance your skin’s glamour and tips for preventing further blemishes.
In this post, we will discuss:
- What are crow’s feet?
- How can I prevent wrinkles?
- What are my treatment options?
What are Crow’s Feet?
“Crow’s Feet” is the nickname given to those pesky wrinkles located in the corner of your eyes — these wrinkles tend to appear deeper and more pronounced on the skin than others. They earned their name due to their resemblance to a crow’s foot, which is thin and stretches in various directions.
Crow’s feet are a long-term effect of tiny muscle contractions that happen during facial expressions — smiling, frowning, laughing, etc.
In general, we have two different types of wrinkles in our skin — dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles appear only during muscle contractions. Many people only see their crow’s feet when they are smiling, thus making them dynamic wrinkles. On the other hand, static wrinkles worsen with muscle contraction but are visible at all times.
Crow’s feet can be both dynamic and static — plus, both forms can be reversed or concealed!
Causes
Crow’s feet are the result of a combination of the loss of skin elasticity/collagen and skin movement. Meaning that as we age, crow’s feet are almost inevitable.
Our skin loses elastin (stretch) and collagen (fullness) naturally over time, but it is the added sun damage, facial movement, and hormone changes that increase your chances of wrinkles.
“All facial movements, whether they are happy or sad, will eventually cause lines and wrinkles.” — Kambiz Golchin, a plastic surgeon.
Because the layer of skin around the eye is thinner and lacks oil glands, crow’s feet appear much earlier in life than other wrinkles.
How You Can Prevent Wrinkles
Although there is no full-proof prevention plan for crow’s feet, there are a variety of steps you can take to reduce their severity and depth:
- Adopt a healthy diet
- Stay hydrated
- Wear hats
- Wear UV protected sunglasses
- Use SPF eye cream
- Reduce exposure to toxins
- Massages and facials
- Quit smoking
By putting these tips to the test, you might come close to reversing crow’s feet on your own.
Treatment Options
If your crow’s feet are serious, you’ll want to consider your treatment options — there’s actually quite a lot. We’ve dissected several approaches to treating crow’s feet, so you don’t have to!
Botox
Botox injections are one of the most common forms of treatment for crow’s feet. Your healthcare provider will inject Botulinum Toxin (using only about 10 units) into the area around your wrinkles using fine needles — don’t worry, you will most likely be numbed first!
Injecting botox into the area will relax the surrounding muscles of your eye corners, ultimately smoothing the skin.
The procedure only takes a couple of minutes and takes practically zero recovery time — getting you back to work the same day.
Effectiveness varies from case to case, but a 2016 study showed that the smoothing effects of botox last for about four months on average.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that can be injected underneath the skin for volume restoration, smoothness, and facial contour.
Similar to Botox, dermal fillers are injected directly into the crow’s feet with a tiny needle. There are different fillers for different effects, but here are the most common:
- Juvederm
- Radiesse
- Restylane
- Sculptra
- Belotero
The procedure’s effects can last anywhere from three months to a year. For static crow’s feet, dermal fillers are extremely effective.
Skin Tightening
Skin tightening devices such as radiofrequency have been known to soften and lift crow’s feet. Aesthetician Renee Lapino advocates for the use of these temperature-controlled devices.
A radiofrequency device is designed to emit frequency waves or thermal energy deep into the skin, combining massage and heating in order to increase circulation around the eye area.
The treatment is painless and takes about 10 to 15 minutes, but it is definitely harder to find.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture may sound scary, but it is actually really beneficial to our health as well as looks.
Cosmetic acupuncture stimulates collagen production, improves skin quality, heals acne, heals scars, and can lessen crow’s feet.
Commonly, acupuncture treatment involves about 40 needles in the face and 12 in the body, but this depends on the goal of your session. The needles are left in for about 20 to 25 minutes.
As well as helping our skin, acupuncture improves digestion and reduces anxiety.
Lasers
Laser resurfacing involves removing the upper layers of skin in order to reveal the fresh skin underneath. This works well for diminishing crow’s feet because it promotes collagen production, which can help the skin around the eyes heal unwrinkled.
Unlike the previous procedures, laser resurfacing requires recovery time. Your face may be bandaged for several days following the procedure and complete healing could take weeks.
Despite this, patients claim that the results take years off of your look, and the effects can last up to 10 whole years.
Topical Creams and Serums
Anti-aging and anti-wrinkle creams and serums are a popular option for eliminating crow’s feet.
Town and Country Magazine recommends these topical treatments for treating crow’s feet at home:
- Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Eye Cream
- MDNA Skin The Eye Serum
- Erno Laszlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask
- Olay Eyes Brightening Eye Cream
- Votary Intense Eye Oil
- Joanna Vargas Revitalizing Eye Cream
- Lancôme Absolue Premium Bx Eye Cream
- La Mer The Eye Concentrate
Now that you understand the causes of crow’s feet and have researched various treatments, it’s time to say farewell to wrinkles! Remember, it’s always best to ask your health provider which treatment they think is right for you. Finally, you can live beautifully without your wrinkles tagging along.