What are crow’s feet?
Crow’s feet are those little lines that fan out from the corners of your eyes. They’re a type of wrinkle, and they’re one of the first signs of aging that many people notice.
The skin around your eyes is especially thin and delicate, making it more susceptible to wrinkles. Plus, you’re constantly using the muscles around your eyes to make facial expressions, which also contributes to the formation of crow’s feet.
While crow’s feet often start to appear in your 30s, some people may notice them even earlier, in their mid-20s. Sun exposure, genetics, and lifestyle choices all play a role in how and when these lines develop.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the causes of crow feet eye wrinkles, how to prevent them, and what you can do to reduce their appearance. We’ll cover everything from lifestyle changes to professional treatments.
What causes crow’s feet?
The crinkles around the corners of your eyes, often called crow’s feet, are caused by a combination of factors, both internal and external.
Intrinsic factors: Natural aging
As you age, your body produces less collagen and elastin, two proteins that help your skin stay supple and resilient. Collagen makes up about 75% of your skin, but after age 20, you naturally produce about 1% less of it each year. This loss of elasticity can lead to wrinkles and lines.
Also, the fat pads under your skin shrink as you age. This loss of volume can make wrinkles more obvious. Your skin also produces less sebum, which can lead to drier skin and more noticeable lines.
Finally, the level of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in your skin declines with age. GAGs, such as hyaluronic acid, help your skin retain moisture. As GAG production slows, your skin becomes less hydrated, leading to more wrinkles.
Extrinsic factors: Environmental and lifestyle influences
The biggest culprit for crow’s feet is sun exposure. The ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight damage collagen and elastin, speeding up the aging process of your skin. This is called photoaging.
Repeated facial expressions, such as smiling, squinting, and frowning, also contribute to crow’s feet. These expressions create dynamic lines that eventually become static, meaning they’re visible even when your face is relaxed. Humans blink about 10,000 times a day, so the skin around our eyes is constantly in motion!
Lifestyle choices also play a role. Smoking reduces collagen repair and accelerates aging. Excessive alcohol consumption dehydrates the skin, making wrinkles more obvious. A poor diet lacking in antioxidants can also impair skin health.
Prevention Strategies: Delaying the Onset of Crow’s Feet
While you can’t stop the clock, you can take steps to slow down the arrival of crow’s feet and minimize their appearance.
Sun Protection is Paramount
The sun is a major culprit in skin aging, so protecting your skin from UV rays is essential.
- Daily Use of Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen: Apply a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days. Be sure to apply it to the delicate skin around your eyes. Reapply every two hours, especially if you’re spending time outdoors.
- Wearing Sunglasses and Hats: Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from UV rays, but they also prevent you from squinting, which contributes to crow’s feet. Hats provide additional shade and protection for your face.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits
A healthy lifestyle is reflected in your skin’s appearance.
- Balanced Diet Rich in Antioxidants: Nourish your skin from the inside out by consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Avoid sugary and processed foods, which can damage collagen and accelerate aging.
- Adequate Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and plump. Aim for at least eight glasses of water per day.
- Sufficient Sleep: Aim for 6-8 hours of quality sleep each night to promote skin repair and regeneration. Deep sleep increases the production of human growth hormone (HGH), which helps maintain skin elasticity.
- Avoid Smoking and Excessive Alcohol: Quitting smoking is crucial for preventing premature aging. Limit alcohol consumption to prevent dehydration and skin damage.
Addressing Excessive Expression
Repeated facial expressions can etch lines into your skin over time.
- Correcting Vision Problems: Get regular eye exams and update your glasses or contact lens prescriptions to avoid squinting.
- Mindful Facial Expressions: Be aware of habitual frowning or squinting and try to relax your facial muscles.
Topical treatments: Skincare for reducing crow’s feet
While you can’t erase crow’s feet completely with over-the-counter skincare products, some ingredients are proven to minimize their appearance.
Key ingredients to look for
- Retinoids. Creams, gels, and serums containing retinol increase skin turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines. If you’re new to retinoids, start with a low concentration and gradually increase it to avoid irritation.
- Peptides. Peptides stimulate collagen production and improve skin elasticity. Look for products with multiple peptides for enhanced benefits.
- Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. This ingredient plumps the skin, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
- Antioxidants. Vitamin C protects your skin against UV damage and boosts collagen production. Vitamin E helps hydrate and protect your skin.
Product recommendations
- Eye creams. Choose eye creams specifically formulated for crow’s feet and apply them gently around the eye area, being careful to avoid direct contact with your eyes.
- Serums. Serums deliver a concentrated dose of active ingredients. Apply them before moisturizer for optimal absorption.
- Plumping products. Look for products containing humectants like glycerin and sorbitol. These products draw moisture to the skin and temporarily reduce the visibility of wrinkles.
Professional Treatments: Advanced Solutions for Crow’s Feet
If you’re looking for more dramatic results than topical treatments can provide, there are several professional procedures that can significantly reduce the appearance of crow’s feet.
Neuromodulators: Botox Injections
One of the most popular and effective treatments for crow’s feet is Botox. Here’s how it works:
- Mechanism of action: Botox temporarily paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles. By relaxing the orbicularis oculi muscle (the muscle that circles your eye), Botox softens the appearance of crow’s feet.
- Procedure and results: Botox injections are quick and typically relatively painless. The results usually last for three to six months.
- Considerations and side effects: Possible side effects include bruising, swelling, and, in rare cases, temporary eyelid droop. That’s why it’s important to choose a qualified and experienced injector.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are another option for addressing crow’s feet.
- Types of fillers: Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are commonly used to plump the skin around the eyes. HA attracts water and helps hydrate the skin, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
- Procedure and results: Fillers are injected into the skin to restore lost volume and smooth out wrinkles. Results are usually immediate and can last for several months.
- Considerations and side effects: Potential side effects include bruising, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
Energy-Based Treatments
Energy-based treatments use different forms of energy to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture.
- Laser Resurfacing: Lasers remove the outer layers of damaged skin and stimulate the production of new collagen. There are different types of lasers available, each with varying levels of intensity and downtime.
- High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): HIFU uses ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen regeneration deep within the skin. Results improve gradually over several months.
- Chemical Peels: Chemical peels exfoliate the skin and promote new cell growth. Different types of peels are available, ranging from light to deep, and recovery time varies depending on the depth of the peel.
Hiding crow’s feet with makeup
While there’s nothing wrong with having crow’s feet, some people prefer to hide them. If that’s you, here are some tips:
- Hydrate: Use a moisturizing eye cream before you put on any makeup. This will make your skin look plumper.
- Prime: Use a silicone-based primer to create a smooth base. The primer will fill in the fine lines around your eyes.
- Conceal lightly: Use a light concealer that’s one shade lighter than your skin. Be careful not to use too much makeup, because heavy makeup can make wrinkles look worse.
- Skip the powder: Powder can settle into your wrinkles and make them more visible.
- Distract: Use makeup to draw attention to your lips or other features.
Putting It All Together
Crow’s feet are caused by a triple whammy: getting older, going out in the sun, and making the facial expressions that make you you.
While you can’t stop time, you can take steps to postpone crow’s feet. Protect your skin from the sun, live a healthy lifestyle, and if you have vision problems, get them taken care of.
As for treatment, you have options. Over-the-counter topicals can improve your skin’s texture and diminish the look of wrinkles. More dramatic results can be achieved with professional treatments like Botox, fillers, and laser resurfacing.
Ultimately, crow’s feet are a natural part of aging. You can minimize them, but getting rid of them entirely is usually not realistic.
The best approach is to take care of your skin and overall well-being. Talk with a dermatologist to create a treatment plan that’s right for you.