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In this post, you will understand what crows feet are, what techniques you can do to prevent them, and what treatments work to get rid of them.
- What are Crow’s Feet?
- Two Types Of Facial Wrinkles
- What Causes Eye Wrinkles?
- How to Treat Crow’s Feet Topically?
- How to Prevent Crow’s Feet?
- Most Popular Procedures for crow’s feet
- Radiofrequency and micro needling
- Crow’s Feet and CO2 Laser resurfacing
- Ultrasound for Eye Wrinkles
- Will Surgery Help You Get Rid Of Crow’s Feet?
What are Crow’s feet?
Crow’s feet, also known as smile lines around eyes, are entirely natural and are likely to appear with age. While the skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most delicate of your body, it is the first to show signs of aging.
Crow’s feet specifically refer to the pull lines in the outward corners of your eyes. These fine lines and wrinkles that form when you smile create tiny creases at the corner of the eyes. The name for these wrinkles comes from their similarity in appearance to a crows foot.
Two Types Of Facial Wrinkles
Generally, there are two different types of wrinkles: dynamic and static. Most commonly, dynamic wrinkles are caused when muscles in your face move. For instance, when you cry, smile, laugh, and frown. These wrinkles only occur when you are expressive, once the face is relaxed so is the wrinkle.
Unlike dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles remain on the face even after the expression is over. They often form when the skin loses its flexibility and gravity takes over. And with age, all dynamic wrinkles will eventually become static wrinkles. Also, with age we develop crepey skin, and crepey skin around eyes is difficult to treat. As difficult as treating crows feet. You need to start treatment early, by using a good eye serum (better and more intense than eye creams!).
What causes Eye Wrinkles?
Crow’s feet are caused by excessive muscle movements. These lines are associated with facial expressions like squinting, laughing, and smiling. For instance, when you blink the eye muscle closes the eye, while simultaneously pulling the skin forward. You blink an average of 12 times per minute. And you can’t just stop blinking.
As you age, and during menopause, you’ll gradually lose collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. These proteins keep your skin strong and looking youthful. Collagen is responsible for giving your skin structure and volume. Basically, keeping it plump. Elastin allows the skin to bounce back and stretch.
Without collagen and elastin, the skin becomes looser and is no longer able to retain its resilience. This causes the skin to sag, therefore, creating wrinkles, and under eye bags. The area around the eyes is extremely delicate, and often the first skin to lose collagen and form wrinkles. In most cases, dry skin with lines and wrinkles is treated with a good eye serum. In some cases, under eye fillers can help treat this are. Tear trough filler mostly helps with under eye bags or hollows and not with crows feet.
How to treat Crow’s Feet topically
There are plenty of things you can do to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. First, use an eye serum rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and carotenoids. Additionally, using a retinol serum which stimulates collagen production. Therefore, it smooths texture, reduces appearance of wrinkles, and brightens skin tone. Formulas containing retinol reduce crow’s feet, as the ingredient works to increase the rate of cell turnover.
Plant Mother’s Retinol Serum is a 100% plant based and vegan formula which derives from organic Bakuchiol. In traditional Chinese practice, the plant is considered the “botanical face lift” because of its strong anti-aging properties. In comparison to prescription-based retinol, Plant Mother’s completely organic formula is great for sensitive skin. It can be used daily either morning or night.
To get the best results, pair it with Plant Mother’s Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C is used to protect collagen and improve fine lines and wrinkles.
While applying these oil-based serums you can even practice facial massages. This helps increase blood circulation in the face. Also, it helps the serums absorb into the skin. A recently popularized technique is using Gua Sha tools. This is done by scraping a flat stone in downward and upward motions on the face or body. This eastern practice has been used for centuries and can work in reducing the appearance of crows feet. Additionally, you can try face yoga exercises together with these nutritious serums.
How to prevent Crows Feet
First off, it is important to protect your skin. The best anti-aging technique is applying sunscreen daily. Any exposure to UVA and UVB sun rays leads to an acceleration of wrinkle formation and weakens the skin’s vitality. Heavy sun exposure damages DNA and proteins in the skin. Moreover, sunscreen works to protect the skin’s collagen. In fact, unprotected sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging. Any sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 is recommended. And don’t forget to reapply throughout the day.
In addition to protecting your skin from UVs, you need to take care of your skincare routine. A good eye serum followed by Vitamin C serum in the morning, mineral-based SPF, and a plant-based retinol serum overnight is all you need to reduce and delay crow’s feet from forming.
Another tip – you should switch to clean skincare. That means that you should avoid harsh (and often toxic) chemicals that can irritate your skin and dry it out. Long-term this can speed up creating of wrinkles and lines around your eyes. Also, vegan skincare is always a good alternative to animal-derived ingredients.
Here are some things to avoid. If you are a smoker, smoking is known to accelerate aging. It decreases oxygen and blood flow in the skin. Besides internal damage to the skin, the heat from cigarettes and squinting can contribute to the appearance of crow’s feet.
You should also avoid tanning beds. Whether it is too much time in the sun or in a tanning bed, UV exposure weakens the skin. This then leads to visible lines and wrinkles. You can get more information in this article about skincare tips for women over 50.
Most popular procedures for crow’s feet
Botox crows feet injections are commonly used to treat these wrinkles. By relaxing the muscles surrounding the eyes, Botox easily smooths out the wrinkles. This method does not work in treating the lack of collagen. Instead, it freezes the muscle. This method, however, will require maintenance with recommended injections every three to four months. Botox has virtually no downtime and takes only 15 minutes for treatment. It is best to go to a doctor or a certified professional, for any wrong placement can cause an unnatural look.
Unlike Botox, fillers work to add fullness to the skin. There are several different types of dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid injections are most commonly used for treating crow’s feet. For instance, Juvederm drastically reduce wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body’s joints. It works to plump skin and smooth skin texture. This treatment also has no downtime besides some small swelling. Results may be immediate, but it will take two to three weeks for the filler to completely settle into the skin.
Radiofrequency and micro needling
There are procedures that work specifically to promote collagen and elastin production. For instance, radiofrequency skin tightening uses radio waves to heat the tissue underneath. This non-invasive and pain free procedure encourages circulation in the tissue. This process works by creating small irritations in lower levels of the skin. Therefore, skin tissue is triggered into repairing itself. However, it is significantly more expensive than Botox or fillers. You may only need one treatment in your lifetime though.
A minimally invasive procedure, collagen induction therapy, otherwise known as micro-needling, uses multiple needles to create tiny abrasions. Similarly to how radiofrequency works, this causes the skin to repair itself. When your skin rejuvenates, it allows fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars to fade away. A session takes only 10-20 minutes. And the best results appear 6-8 weeks after treatment. This procedure does require some aftercare though. For almost two weeks, avoid sun exposure, apply small amounts of facial products, and sleep on your back to minimize swelling.
Crows Feet and CO2 Laser resurfacing
Another effective treatment for crow’s feet is laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing burns the skin similarly to how sunburn does. By removing upper layers of skin, this prompts the skin to repair itself. Newer skin will boost collagen and elastin and have a more youthful look. Compared to micro needling, laser resurfacing works deeper in skin layers that produce collagen and elastin. After treatment your skin will be extremely sensitive. Likely to blister and itch. Be prepared to spend more downtime taking care of your skin as it heals.
Similarly, chemical peels remove the top layer of the skin. Removing the upper skin layer allows for collagen growth and cell turnover. As well as building new skin to reduce wrinkles. It is not advised for darker skin tones due to possible discoloration.
Ultrasound for Eye Wrinkles
Even high intensity focused ultrasounds can target deep tissue layers. This treatment, being non-invasive, can actually penetrate 5 millimeters deep, often deeper than lasers. It is even referred to as a “micro facelift.” An effective method for skin tightening, ultrasounds can smoothen wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. The procedure can take between 30-90 minutes depending on the area of treatment. Since the treatment bypasses the surface level, there is little care needed. Although best results appear 3-6 months after treatment.
Will Surgery Help You Get Rid Of Crow’s Feet?
Lastly, cosmetic surgery can reduce, but not fully remove crow’s feet. In a face lift surgery, a doctor pulls back a flap of skin on each side of the face. By removing the excess skin, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles gets reduced. However, crows feet are located in the corners of eyes and are difficult to reach with a standard face lift or upper and lower eyelid surgery. Unlike other treatments this is a major surgery. Therefore, most doctors recommend laser resurfacing as a better and less invasive solution.
Since this area of the skin is delicate, it is always important to be careful before getting any treatment. Consult your doctor about what options are best for you.
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. The publisher of this content does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, skincare product, or lifestyle program.
