Crow’s Feet: Age They Start and Reducing Eye Wrinkles (2024)

Crow's feet are the fine lines around the outer corner of your eyes. They can extend to your temple or upper cheek. These common types of wrinkles are considered a sign of aging.

Crow's feet can be caused by many of the same factors as other fine lines and wrinkles. Sun exposure and smoking can also make them more severe.

While crow's feet are not a health risk, many people treat them to achieve a more youthful look and improve self-esteem. There are several ways to smooth this are for those who want to do so.

This article explains how crow's feet form and treatments to reduce them. It also describes ways to care for your skin to help prevent them.

Causes of Crow's Feet

The area around your eyes, known as the periocular area, is more prone to signs of aging and fatigue than many other areas of the body. This skin is thinner than other regions of your face. It also has fewer oil glands and is subject to repetitive contractions during movements like smiling and frowning. As a result, this area is among the first to show signs of aging with the appearance of crow's feet.

Factors that contribute to the formation of crow's feet include:

• Genetic predisposition to signs of aging
• Aging, which leads to a gradual loss of the underlying collagen and elastin fibers that provide skin strength and elasticity
• Making repeated facial expressions
• Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light or tanning, which accelerates the breakdown of collagen in your skin
• Smoking, which reduces collagen and elastin, and deprives your skin of oxygen and other nutrients
  

When Smiling

Crow's feet that occur during actions like smiling are called dynamic facial lines. They are produced by the actions of underlying muscles when you smile, squint, or frown. When you perform these actions, the skin around your eyes is constantly squeezed, and the appearance of crow's feet is unavoidable.

With Neutral Expressions

Crow's feet that occur during neutral expressions are called static facial lines. They are always present regardless of your activity. These lines exist even during sleep.

Static facial lines in the eye area result from a history of smiling, squinting, and making other expression in the eye area. They can become more severe due to other factors like sun damage. Once facial lines become static, they may appear worse when you smile or make other facial expressions.

How to Decrease Crow's Feet Lines (If You Want)

Crow's feet don't harm your health or cause pain. While some people accept their crow's feet as a natural part of aging, you don't have to. If you're dissatisfied with the way your crow's feet make you look and feel about yourself, you can choose from several options to reduce their appearance.

It's important to recognize that treatments for crow's feet are not permanent. While results will vary by your condition and the products used, retreatment is the norm to maintain results.

Eye Creams

Eye creams tend to be the first line of treatments to reduce signs of aging most people try for crow's feet. These treatments offer the most convenient and least expensive option. The challenge in using eye creams is finding the one that works best for you. No single product alone works for everyone.

Before you begin using a new eye cream, perform a patch test to determine whether the ingredients will cause a skin irritation or allergic reaction. To perform a skin test, do the following:

1. Apply a quarter-size amount of product on a clean area of your skin, such as the underside of your arm, where it won't be washed away or rubbed off.
2. Try to apply the normal thickness and amount you would use if using the product regularly.
3. Leave the product in place for the same amount of time you would leave it in the eye area.
4. If you don't have a skin reaction after seven to 10 days, the eye cream is likely safe for your skin.
5. If you notice a skin reaction, wash the product off as soon as possible and do not use it.

It may take trial and error before you find an eye cream that provides the desired results. Look for the following ingredients commonly used in eye creams:

• Retinoids: Retinoids include compounds of both natural and synthetic forms of vitamin A. Research indicates that these substances are among the most effective in slowing the aging process. Retinoids have proven anti-aging effects that promote cell growth, reduce your skin's loss of moisture, and increase collagen production, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Peptides: Peptides are chains of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). When applied to your skin they may stimulate collagen production, decrease inflammation, and increase skin firmness, making it feel more taught and appear smoother.
• Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid is a skin-hydrating substance naturally occurring in your skin, joints, and connective tissue. It works by attracting water from within the dermis (the middle layer of skin) and moving it to the epidermis (the skin's surface). When applied topically, hyaluronic acid helps draw water to your skin, plumping fine lines and wrinkles so they look smoother.
  

Oral Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid, is naturally found in many body fluids and tissues. Its unique characteristics allow it to bind and retain water molecules. While a common ingredient in topical moisturizers or dermal fillers, hyaluronic acid can also be used as a supplement. Results of a study that involved the oral ingestion of 120 milligrams a day (mg/day) for 12 weeks indicated that oral hyaluronic acid suppresses wrinkles and promotes more lustrous and supple skin.

Botox Injections

Botox(onabotulinumtoxinA)is the brand name of an injected treatment that contains botulinum toxin type A, a byproduct of the bacterium Clostridium. When injected, this treatment (also known as neurotoxin treatment) blocks nerve signals from reaching targeted muscles so the muscles remain relaxed and do not contract. The effect reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing the muscles that cause them.

This treatment is available under the Botox name and several other brands used to treat crow's feet and other wrinkles. They all contain the same active ingredient (botulinum toxin type A) but differ in their formulation. This affects the dosage used, how the product spreads after injection, and how fast you notice changes.

This treatment is offered in the following brands and forms:

• Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
• Dysport(abobotulinumtoxinA)
• Xeomin(incobotulinumtoxinA)
• Jeuveau (prabotulinumtoxinA)
• Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-Ianm)
• Letybo (letibotulinumtoxinA)

Your healthcare provider can advise you on the the best product for you based on your anatomy, goals, and other factors. Botox-type injectables are a nonsurgical, in-office procedure. Results can take from three to seven days to appear. While individual results vary, results typically last from three to six months, though Daxxify may last up to nine months for some patients.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a solution that typically contains acid, such as salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acid. This removes the damaged top layer of old skin. The new skin that replaces it is usually smoother and less wrinkled in appearance.

During a chemical peel, a solution is brushed onto your skin. The solution remains in place for a specified period then removed with a neutralizing wash. A cool compress may be used to relieve stinging.

It is common to experience redness and peeling within three to seven days after treatment. During this process, the old skin peels off to reveal new, healthier-looking skin.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing, also called laser peeling, uses a wand-like instrument to deliver short, concentrated, and pulsating beams of light to the crow's feet. This allows for the precise removal of damaged upper layers of skin one layer at a time. The light also heats the underlying skin to promote collagen production. With healing, the treated area reveals firmer and smoother skin.

Treated skin reacts like a sunburn with peeling and redness. Extreme reactions can produce raw, oozing skin and blistering. Your skin will dry and peel in about five days to a week after your treatment to reveal new, rejuvenated skin.

Crow's Feet Skin Protection

You can't stop the natural aging process and its impact on your skin. The inevitable loss of skin firmness and other signs of aging occur with time due to intrinsic aging, or the natural aging process.

Environmental and lifestyle choices can contribute to premature aging. This type of aging, called extrinsic aging, can accelerate the effects of the natural aging process. Changing these processes can help slow the effects that extrinsic aging has on your skin and the formation of crow's feet.

It's never too early to start protecting your skin. Don't let young children and teens establish bad skincare habits. Help them follow a healthy diet, lifestyle, and routines that include reducing sun exposure, applying sunscreen daily, and getting enough sleep.

Doing this may reduce the effects of aging years later, but it may also help lower their risk of other skin problems, such as melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in the future.

In Your 20s and 30s

The best way to protect your skin from crow's feet is to start protecting the skin around your eyes at an early age. Thinning and drying of the skin around your eyes can appear by the time you reach your 30s.

Investing in the following strategies can help slow the appearance of crow's feet before they become severe:

• Protect your skin from the sun by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher on your face every day.
• Apply a facial moisturizer daily to replenish any lost moisture.
• Stop using skin care products that burn or sting, which are signs of skin irritation.
• Use a self-tanner rather than getting a tan.
  
• Avoid forming habits that involve repetitive facial expressions.
• Reduce squinting by wearing sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer sugars and other refined carbohydrates.
• Establish and maintain a regular exercise program to improve circulation and boost your immune system.
• Use a gentle facial cleanser to remove daily exposure to pollution, makeup, and other potential skin irritants.
• Cleanse your face twice daily and after sweating to keep it free of irritants.
• Get adequate sleep nightly to help your skin renew and repair itself.
• If you smoke, stop.
• Stay hydrated, drinking 15.5 cups of water daily for men and 11.5 cups of water for women, as advised by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  

In Your 40s and Up

By the time you've reached your 40s and beyond, you'll likely have some signs of crow's feet. Even if you've ignored skin care in the past, it's never too late to make changes. You can help prevent crow's feet from getting worse or returning quickly after treatment by doing the following:

• Protect your skin from the sun with daily sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Apply facial moisturizer daily, seeking out a product that addresses your specific concerns.
• Limit screen time to avoid the damage that excessive blue light use can cause to your eyes and skin.
• Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser and warm water rather than soap, and avoid scrubbing.
• Stop smoking.
• Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, including healthy fats and lean proteins.
  
• Get a facial massage to improve circulation and elasticity to prevent or reduce the signs of aging around your eyes.

The decision to treat crow's feet is a personal choice. If having crow's feet is affecting your self-image and the way you feel about yourself, consult with a dermatologist about your options for treatment.

Summary

Crow's feet are a normal part of aging. Factors such as genetics, smoking, and sun exposure can make them worse. At any age, taking precautions like using sunscreen, moisturizing, and eating a healthy diet can help reduce your risk of crow's feet or slow their return after treatment.

Professional treatments like Botox, dermal fillers, and laser resurfacing can smooth crow's feet and make you look and feel younger. Other options like eye creams and natural treatments can improve crow's feet, though not as quickly or as extreme as office treatments.

You do not have to treat crow's feet. However, if you choose to do so, consult a healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon, to discuss options. They can advise which treatments can help you achieve the results you desire.