What To Do About Crow’s Feet

The skin around the eyes is often one of the first places people begin to notice signs of aging. Those lines that form at the outside corners of the eyes are so common that they’ve been colloquially dubbed “crow’s feet,” referring to their branching nature. So, what, if anything, can be done about crow’s feet?

How to Identify and Treat Crow’s Feet

Crow’s Feet: Thin Skin and Smiling Eyes

All wrinkles result from the same key factors: regular movement (i.e. stretching of skin when smiling, frowning, etc.), loss of collagen (which occurs as we get older), and environmental factors that damage the skin, such as exposure to UV rays and frequent smoking. Crow’s feet are no different, but they tend to form earlier than most other wrinkles because of their location — the skin around the eyes is thinner (about 40% thinner) than the skin found in most other areas of the body. On top of that, our eyes are almost constantly moving as we blink and look around, and move our facial muscles (i.e. smiling and talking) throughout the day.

Wrinkles around the eyes are inevitable. However, there are ways to slow down the formation of crow’s feet and reduce their appearance, which we’ll discuss next.

Preventing Wrinkles Around the Eyes

If it were possible or desirable to keep our faces still all the time, this would undoubtedly prevent crow’s feet. We have no choice but to blink, and going throughout life without smiling or making various facial expressions wouldn’t be very fulfilling. The good news is that you don’t need to freeze your face to help prevent eye wrinkles. Here are some practical steps you can take to combat crow’s feet:

• Don’t spend too much time in the sun — to prevent sun damage when spending time outside, wear sunscreen (30+ SPF is ideal, and don’t forget the skin around your eyes) and throw on a hat and polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes even more
• Exercise regularly to increase blood flow and overall health
• Eat a well-balanced diet with fruit, vegetables, grains, and healthy oils to limit free radicals
• Stop smoking
• Avoid tanning, whether out in the sun or in a tanning booth
• Regularly apply moisturizers containing collagen and antioxidants to your skin

How to Reduce Eye Wrinkles

Regardless of how well you take care of your skin, you’ll encounter crow’s feet and other types of wrinkles and lines eventually. This is where effective wrinkle reducing treatments and procedures come into play. The best ways to combat eye wrinkles include:

• Topical creams and ointments that stimulate collagen production such as Tretinoin
• Chemical peels that slough off dead skin cells to make way for new growth
• Laser resurfacing
• Dermal Fillers containing hyaluronic acid (Perlane, Restylane, Juvederm) that offer the skin additional support and hydration
• Botox injections that temporarily paralyze certain portions of skin tissue to reduce muscle movements

In addition to these eye wrinkle treatment options, you can also conceal crow’s feet by using makeup strategically — use a silicone-based primer, limit your use of concealer and foundation (as these can actually pronounce wrinkles), blend carefully and lightly, avoid loose powder on crow’s feet, and avert attention away from your eyes by focusing more on your cheeks and lips.

Crow’s feet are simply a part of getting older, but they don’t need to define your skin or your appearance. Let the cosmetic dermatology experts at Premier Dermatology Partners help you prevent further wrinkle formation and reduce the appearance of the wrinkles you currently have. To learn more about our providers and all the services we offer, contact us today.