How To Get Rid Of Crow’s Feet

Article medically reviewed by Dr. Gavin Chan

Templestowe Lower, Berwick and Beaumaris Clinics

Dr. Gavin Chan, MBBS, General Registration (MED0001175745), founder of the Victorian Cosmetic Institute, began offering cosmetic medical treatments in 2004. Formerly a trainer for cosmetic pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Chan currently concentrates on offering ongoing training to cosmetic doctors at the Victorian Cosmetic Institute. He ensures that all doctors stay updated with the latest procedures and methods in the cosmetic industry. Read More

What are crow’s feet?

Crow’s feet are the fine lines coming out from the corners of your eyes when you smile. These might be some of the first signs of skin ageing that you notice, because the skin around this part of your face is thinner and more delicate than other areas. These lines and wrinkles usually form over time because your muscles contract every time you make a repeated facial expression, and as you get older your skin produces less collagen to fill it back out. Your skin will also lose fullness and get thinner as you age. Crow’s feet are sometimes referred to as ‘laugh lines’ and are a normal part of ageing, but may make some people look older than they feel.

There are two types of crow’s feet – dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. If the fine lines around your eyes are there even when you’re not smiling, these are static crow’s feet. Dynamic crow’s feet usually appear and worsen with the constant movement of your face.

What causes crow’s feet or fine lines around the eyes?

Crow’s feet are the fine lines and wrinkles that spread from the outer corners of your eyes when you smile. When you smile, the orbicularis oculi muscles contract around your eye socket. This muscle contraction pulls your eye skin inward and over time these facial expressions cause your eyes to develop fine lines and deeper wrinkles.

The skin around your eyes is very thin and can be the first area of your face to show signs of ageing. One of the things that causes crow’s feet is the loss of your skin’s elasticity that has been caused by your squinting, smiling and sleeping. We believe the biggest instigators of crow’s feet are smiling, then squinting and then sleeping.

The wrinkles around your eyes form due to the repetitive motions around the skin. As you age, this movement causes creases in the fine skin, breaks down the collagen and elastic fibres and creates eye wrinkles. Collagen and elastin production decreases as you get older, which contributes to the deepening of the wrinkles.

Crow’s feet develop over time as we clock more hours out in the sun, because UV rays encourage the development of free radicals in the skin, which contribute to the formation of wrinkles.

How to prevent crow’s feet

As your collagen production naturally slows down and the delicate skin around your eyes gets thinner, crow’s feet will naturally develop. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent crow’s feet.

Limit sun exposure and wear sunscreen

You should try to limit sun exposure as much as possible, and always wear sunscreen when you are exposed to UV rays. You should wear broad spectrum SPF sun protection as well as a hat and sunglasses to make sure you lower your risk of sun damage. Environmental damage is one of the biggest factors in the formation of wrinkles, so you should make it a priority to keep your skin as protected as possible. You should also never use tanning beds.

Maintain a healthy diet

Maintaining a healthy diet will also help with preventing crow’s feet, because it lowers your risk of damage from free radicals. Getting regular exercise promotes collagen production and helps delay the appearance of wrinkles. It will also increase circulation and help to keep your skin hydrated.

Pay attention to your skincare routine

You should try to incorporate nutrient rich moisturisers and eye creams into your skincare routine in order to stimulate the production of collagen and keep your skin healthy – those that include active ingredients like Vitamin C.

Avoid smoking

Quit smoking as soon as you can, because tobacco products can significantly damage your skin.

What treatments can minimise crow’s feet?

The Victorian Cosmetic Institute has been effectively treating men’s and women’s crow’s feet with anti-wrinkle injections since 2005. We use anti-wrinkle injections to specifically target the areas around your eyes that are causing them to wrinkle.

After you have anti-wrinkle injections around your crows feet the muscles are temporarily weakened. This minimises their ability to crease the delicate area around your eyes, giving you a more relaxed, smooth appearance. Using an appropriate dose of anti-wrinkle injections in the area will help you achieve a natural, fresh result.

The presence of crow’s feet around your eyes is natural and gives you the ability to smile, laugh and show your irritation! Wrinkles in the under eye area are often called ‘character lines’ so there is no need to completely erase them. We believe that anti-wrinkle injections should moderate the severity or intensity of your lines – never make your face look frozen.

How anti-wrinkle injections can treat your crow’s feet

Since 2005 we have successfully treated wrinkles around the eyes with an inhibitor that relaxes the muscles. With several brands to consider, we’re not able to name each product we use due to Therapeutic Goods Administration rules.

Injection techniques around the eye area over the last few years mean we can treat your crow’s feet as well as any other facial wrinkles you’ve been concerned about.

How to treat crow’s feet with natural remedies/without injectables

There are a number of home remedies and recipes that are said to improve the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles, as well as dermatological treatments that don’t include injectables.

The first thing you can try is to use an eye cream or anti ageing moisturiser. These products are often rich with the vitamins and antioxidants that your skin needs to improve the appearance of dark circles, stimulate collagen and elastin production and prevent premature ageing.

You should also look for products with hyaluronic acid as this ingredient has great plumping and anti-ageing properties. Vitamin C is a key ingredient because it stimulates the production of collagen, giving skin the opportunity to regain its resilience. Shop eye cream to get rid of crow’s feet here.

Chemical peels can also be a great way to treat visible crow’s feet. Getting a chemical peel involves putting a chemical solution on the face to remove the outer layer, revealing a smoother layer underneath. The chemical solutions can range in strength and intensity, and will need to be applied by a qualified aesthetician. A deep peel may require some recovery time. View our range of chemical peels here.

Other natural crow’s feet treatments include using ingredients that you can find at home as topical remedies. Glycolic acid is a great exfoliant that comes from sugar cane. You can use this natural acid to treat crow’s feet by adding honey to some raw sugar and applying it to your skin as a face mask. Egg whites can be frothed and used in the same way, because they are great at tightening skin.

Citric acid (found in lemon juice) and tartaric acid (found in grapes and bananas) are also natural oils that can be used to smooth skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Coconut oil and aloe vera, often renowned as miracle workers for tired or damaged skin, can also be used to conceal crow’s feet and help keep your skin smoother. View topical treatments such as vitamin creams and serums here.

FAQs

What age do you get crow’s feet?

Character lines usually begin to develop in your twenties, but they won’t be prominent or noticeable for a while after that. The age at which your crow’s feet become very apparent will vary depending on your lifestyle.

What is the fastest way to get rid of crow’s feet?

Anti-wrinkle injections are the fastest way to minimise the appearance of crow’s feet, because you will see a difference very soon after the procedure. However, you should consider whether or not this is the right option for you.

How long do anti-wrinkle injections take to work on crow’s feet?

After the initial procedure, it will take 2-3 days for the wrinkles in the delicate eye area to appear visibly reduced. The results will then last for 3-4 months. You will have to get the treatment 2-3 times a year in order to maintain the results.

What is the best eye cream for crow’s feet?

After you’ve had your crow’s feet treated it’s a good idea to hydrate, nourish and protect the affected area. Aspect Dr Eyelift is a lightweight, hydrating formula that reduces dark circles, puffiness and fine lines around your eyes. Perfect for mature or sun damaged skin, this clinical strength formula can transform your eyes from being weighed down with baggage, to feeling nourished, soothed and more youthful.

Why you should choose Victorian Cosmetic Institute

Don’t let your eye lines weigh you down. At your consultation, we take the time to discuss your personal requirements and preferences. We know you want to smile and laugh and still have movement and expression around your eye area. Call us on 1300 863 824 to find out more or fill in this form.