Crow’s feet-those etched wrinkles that begin at the outer corner of the eye area and fan out-got their name due to the fact the pattern they form resembles, you guessed it, a crow’s foot! Ironically, despite the fact that actual crow’s feet have a distinct shape, the pattern that these wrinkles can take varies from person to person. Some eye area wrinkles are deeper or more pronounced on others-and it doesn’t always corroborate with age.
Unlike fine lines, which tend to “plump up” and respond favorably to moisturizers, eye wrinkles are deeper and more apparent. Frustratingly, these wrinkles are visible even when you’re not smiling or making other facial expressions. As a result, it is trickier to reduce crow’s feet-but it can be done!
How to Reduce Crow’s Feet
The number one thing you can do every day to help prevent them from getting worse is to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen around your eyes and face. Eye area wrinkles are largely caused by sun damage, which destroys skin-firming collagen and elastin.
When it comes to choosing a sunscreen for the sensitive eye area, look for SPF products that contain the minerals titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These are least likely to be sensitizing when applied around the eyes.
It’s also critical to use products that contain antioxidants, skin-repairing ingredients, and cell-communicating ingredients. These types of ingredients can work to reduce eye wrinkles. Of course, these beneficial anti-aging ingredients reduce other signs of aging, too, like dark spots, uneven skin tone, and loss of firmness. Also, applying an alpha or beta-hydroxy acid under the eye area will work to improve skin texture, stimulate collagen production, and potentially improve sun-induced under-eye discolorations. You may need to supplement your core routine with a treatment product specifically designed to improve wrinkles around the eyes. The key is making sure the products contain effective amounts of proven ingredients.
Botox to Reduce Crow’s Feet
Eye area wrinkles can be stubborn to treat, and even with the best skincare, they may not respond as fast as you’d like without some additional help. Despite all the benefits great skincare (including sun protection) can deliver, topical products have their limitations. That’s where non-invasive (i.e., non-surgical) cosmetic corrective procedures come into play-by bridging the gap. They work with skincare to get you the best results. Among the procedures dermatologists use to get rid of eye area wrinkles, Botox is by far the most common.
When properly injected around the eyes, Botox can dramatically smooth crow’s feet. The results from Botox can last between 3 to 6 months. However, the cost is not inexpensive!
Many people will find great anti-aging skincare routine enough to outsmart crow’s feet. With the right products, your eye area will look younger than you thought could be possible. And those crow’s feet? They’re for the birds!
