Crow’s feet and fine lines around the eye area are an inevitable sign of facial ageing that typically begin to form as tiny lines in a person’s mid-twenties. Over time, these fine lines begin to deepen into more pronounced wrinkles or folds that are visible even when a person is expressionless. Crow’s feet, technically called orbicularis oculi contractions (but sometimes also referred to as laugh lines or character lines), are clusters of wrinkles and lines that spread out from the outer corners of the eyes. At times these wrinkles can look like footprints from a crow, hence the name.
What Causes Crow’s Feet?
Crow’s feet are considered expression wrinkles as they form after years of facial muscle contractions while performing various everyday facial expressions like smiling, squinting, or frowning. During our younger years when the skin has more elasticity, crow’s feet often only appear while during the actual muscle contraction. This is because the skin is better able to “snap back” into its proper place once the contractions cease.
With natural aging, however, the skin begins to lose its elasticity resulting in the static appearance of crow’s feet. The decline in collagen and other skin proteins also makes crow’s feet lines appear deeper and more prominent.
Crow’s Feet Prevention
While completely preventing crow’s feet is not possible, there are a few ways to slow their rate of development and limit their overall appearance:
Sun Protection
Protect your skin from UV rays by using a high SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds, and staying out of the sun during peak UV hours. UV overexposure is one of the main contributors to early onset ageing and elasticity losses.
Sunglasses
Wearing polarised sunglasses can protect the delicate skin around the eyes and prevent excessive squinting.
Skin Care Regimen
Keep your skin looking and feeling its best by following a sound daily skin care regimen. We encourage clients to properly cleanse the skin, apply serums use a daily moisturiser and SPF, and regularly exfoliate the skin.
Smoking
People who smoke cigarettes, E cigarettes or vapes continuously expose their skin to chemicals that cause lines and wrinkles to form earlier.
Healthy Diet
Eat a diet full of lean protein, fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy oils. A well-balanced diet is a key factor for optimal skin health!
Exercise
Following a daily exercise routine can greatly benefit the skin by boosting blood flow and improving its oxygen level.
Crow’s Feet Treatment Options
Patients who have developed crow’s feet can choose from a variety of treatment options to limit their visible appearance. The best treatment for each patient will depend on the severity of their crow’s feet and well as their desired outcome. Additionally, patients may benefit from trying a combination of various treatments.
Here are the most popular treatment options for crow’s feet:
Topical Skin Care Products
There are many topical products, either over-the-counter or prescription-strength, that are very good at addressing fine lines and moderate wrinkles. Some of the best options include eye creams and serums formulated with ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C. These products work by removing dead skin, encouraging new skin cell development, and protecting the skin from further ageing. As always, it’s best to consult with your dermatologist before introducing any new skincare product into your regimen.
Skin Peels
Skin peels are topically applied formulas that revitalise the skin surface by creating an even and controlled shedding of the skin cells. This allows new layers to be exposed, creating a fresh appearance and smoother texture to the skin surface. Peels differ in terms of their strength and the issues they address, so it’s important to choose an experienced provider who can tailor a peel to your specific needs. In our clinic, we prefer to use lactic peels, which offer not only skin rejuvenation, but lactic acid will calm inflammation, making it a great option for the sensitive eye area.
Micro-Needling
Micro-needling (or Collagen Induction Therapy) is an in-clinic treatment that utilises a handheld dermapen to create tiny punctures or tears in the skin. By creating minor skin injury during the procedure, the skin’s natural healing process initiates the production of new collagen and elastin fibres that thicken the skin and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and other wrinkles. Micro-needling also creates channels that increase the efficacy of topical skin care products by enabling deeper penetration and fuller absorption.
Neuromodulators
The use of an injectable neurotoxin (wrinkle/muscle relaxing treatments) can also help lessen the appearance of mild instances of crow’s feet. These treatments work by relaxing the facial muscles that cause lines and wrinkles when they contract. It does this by blocking neuron signals between the brain and the treated muscle. The treatment is safe, quick, and nearly painless. Best of all results are long-lasting and often fully visible within two weeks of treatment.
Volume Restoration
Volume restoration using dermal fillers have become one of the most popular tools in the fight against ageing. These non-surgical treatments require little to no recovery time and produce instant results. Fillers like Juvederm can be injected directly into crow’s feet and surrounding areas to smooth wrinkles and plump the skin. Dermal fillers are particularly effective in treating static crow’s feet, where wrinkles and folds appear even when the face is at rest.
Eye Creams and Serums
Eye products have come a long way in recent times, with the inclusion of ingredients that stimulate collagen and elastin, even out tone and texture and hydrate this delicate eye area. The use of vitamin A and C in eye creams and serums can radically reduce the appearance of crow’s feet as well as under eye crepiness and dark circles. Pigmentation can also be treated with eye creams, leaving the eye area looking fresher and more youthful.
Do I need an eye cream?
We in the clinic all use an eye cream or serum, and could not be without one, but it is not necessarily a product that we recommend for everyone. Those in their 20’s don’t really require one as they still have enough collagen and elastin to keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay – but having said that, by adding in an eye cream that stimulates collagen production, this age group are doing their best to prevent the inevitable lines that come with age – not prevent them completely, but certainly avoid deeper, premature wrinkles.
The best eye cream for crow’s feet:
Cosmedix Elite Eye Doctor
Hands down the greatest eye serum on the market. This product plumps, heals, soothes and moisturises, a combination that reduces signs of ageing and keeps them at bay. Note that this product always says it’s ‘out of stock’ as you can’t purchase it online without contacting our clinic first.
- Rice bran oil is used due to its deep-moisturising abilities. Rice bran oil contains high levels of vitamin E and fatty acids which penetrate the skin to provide hydration at a deep level. Its natural anti-aging and healing components make this ingredient one of Japan’s most beloved anti-aging secrets. Cholesteryl Nonanoate is also used for its amount of emollients which work to replenish the skin’s natural essential oils.
- The AGP Complex, a type of vitamin A, liquid crystal, and cococin drastically diminished the appearance of fine lines, circles, puffiness, and discoloration, therefore reducing signs of ageing and providing a more youthful and healthy appearance.
- On top of these benefits, the number of antioxidant properties found in the ingredients helps to increase blood flow and protect the eye skin from free radical and other environmental damage
Medik8 C Tetra Eye
This eye serum is a super affordable option that really packs a punch. Designed for restoring youthful looking eyes by brightening, moisturising and protecting the skin. Focusing on your delicate eye area, the serum helps brighten your skin with our original C-Tetra® formulation. Smoothing fine lines and wrinkles for a more youthful, energised appearance. We love this eye serum for those who want a more ‘awake’ look and are also wanting to treat pigmentation under the eyes.
Aspect Dr Eye Lift
One of our most popular eye creams, Aspect Dr Eyelift Eye Cream is a powerful antioxidant eye serum which drastically improves dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. With clinical strength, Aspect Dr Eyelift literally lifts the eyes and effectively treats those under eye concerns.
PCA Ideal Complex Restorative Eye Cream
This cutting-edge eye cream strengthens, firms and lifts the skin around the entire eye area, including the eyelid. Additional optical diffusers provide instant brightness. Formulated for those who prefer a creamier texture. This eye cream can be applied directly to the eyelid to firm and lift
SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex is your multi-targeted eye treatment with Pro Xylane™, blueberry extract, and a complex of antioxidants and peptides. Instantly improving the visible signs of ageing with optical-diffusing pigment spheres. Not only does this eye cream diffuse your dark circles, it also fights the puffiness and crows feet around your eyes. This silky textured eye cream will soon become your favourite! If you haven’t heard about the advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.) then have a search now and check it out. This is just another way our modern lifestyle is ageing our bodies faster.
Best Selling Eye Anti-ageing Options
If you need any help in choosing your skin care, you can email us at info@theskincareclinic.com.au.
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CosMedix Elite Eye Doctor High Potency Eye Treatment
$249.00 -
Medik8 C-Tetra Eye
$49.00 – $111.00 -
PCA Skin Ideal Complex Restorative Eye Cream
$165.00
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