What Are Crow’s Feet – And How Can I Prevent Them?

As we get older, many of us start to develop wrinkles around the corners of the eyes. These are often referred to as ‘crow’s feet’. Just what causes these wrinkles? And how can you prevent them? This post explains more.

What are crow’s feet?

The official name for crow’s feet is ‘lateral canthal lines’. They form around the outer corners of the eyes in a shape resembling a crow’s foot. Most of us can temporarily see these lines when we laugh or squint. Over time, they can become permanent. 

What causes crow’s feet?

Years of facial expressions will eventually cause crow’s feet to develop. However, certain bad habits can increase the risk of developing these wrinkles faster. 

Unprotected sun exposure is a common cause of crow’s feet. Not wearing shades in the sun can cause us to squint more regularly and could result in faster development of wrinkles around the eyes. UV rays from the sun can also cause a loss of collagen in the skin, which can be reduced by wearing sun lotion.

Bad habits like smoking can also increase the risk of developing crow’s feet. Smoking leads to an increased production of an enzyme that breaks down collagen, making skin more prone to sagging and wrinkling. 

Can you reduce crow’s feet?

Crow’s feet are likely to start as fine wrinkles and will gradually deepen. When these wrinkles are still fine, it is possible to reduce them through various skin treatments. 

The most affordable and least invasive option is to use a retinoid cream. Such creams can help rebuild collagen and reduce fine wrinkles. They are unlikely to have much impact on deeper wrinkles.

Injectables are another option. The most popular option is Botox, which relaxes muscles around the eyes to reduce crow’s feet when smiling and squinting. Just be wary that Botox only lasts a few months. 

Liquid PDO is another more modern solution. This involves tightening skin using dissolving surgical threads. It can give the effect of a facelift without having to go under the knife. 

Then there is the option of dermabrasion or laser resurfacing. This involves removing top layers of skin to remove wrinkles.

Finally, you can also consider surgery. This is the most extreme option, but does have the most effective results and can be used to reduce deeper wrinkles. 

How can you prevent crow’s feet?

You may be able to ward off crow’s feet by adopting certain healthy habits. The first is to always wear shades and sun cream in sunny weather. This will stop you squinting and protect your skin from UV damage. The second most positive preventative measure you can take is quitting smoking. This will dramatically slow down formation of wrinkles across the face.

Applying moisturizer to your face could also slow down the production of crow’s feet as you get older. Our skin stops producing as many oils as we get older, causing it to become dryer and more wrinkle-prone. Moisturizer can help supplement this loss of oils – helping our skin to remain supple.