Crow’s Feet – Causes, Treatments, Expected Results

Overview | Causes | Prevention | Treatment options | Expected results

Many of my patients come into The Bombay Skin Clinic complaining about crow’s feet and other similar skin concerns. It is understandable that as you age, your skin undergoes some gradual changes, making some part of your face more susceptible to the signs of aging than other areas. 

In this article, I will take you through important information and treatment options for crow’s feet so that you can make a well-informed decision.

What are crow’s feet?

A common concern, crow’s feet are the small lines that spread out from the corners of your eyes. They develop with time when small muscles contract when you make facial expressions every time. If your crow’s feet mainly appear when you smile, they are probably dynamic wrinkles that show up only during muscle contraction. If your crow’s feet are visible all the time, even with a resting face, they are static in nature. This means that they may worsen with muscle contraction.

Why do we get crow’s feet?

Crow’s feet appear due to aging, loss of collagen, or excessive exposure to the UV rays of the sun. It can occur at any age, including your mid-20s. If it occurs at such an early age, it may be due to a lack of oil glands and the thin layer of skin around the eye. As the skin’s elasticity reduces around this thin layer, the skin is not able to return to its former state.

How can you reduce or prevent crow’s feet?

Crow’s feet indicates that you are aging, but there are some preventive measures for this skin condition. You can slow down their development by:

• Never using tanning beds
• Using eye creams and moisturizers with antioxidants and collagen
• Quitting smoking to reduce the free radical formation
• Wearing polarized sunglasses with big sun-blocking shades
• Exercising daily to bring oxygen to the skin
• Eating a healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy oils
• Wearing sunscreen daily with SPF 15+
• Limiting sun exposure and wearing a hat outdoors

What is the difference between fine lines and crow’s feet?

Fine lines are also known as wrinkles that are not very wide, pronounced, or deep. They can occur anywhere on your face. On the other hand, crow’s feet are visible due to muscle contraction. While the former can be eliminated with lighter skin fillers, the latter requires more intensive treatments.

What are some of the best treatments for crow’s feet?

Some of the best crow’s feet treatments are Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and creams or solutions. At The Bombay Skin Clinic, I make a thorough assessment of each patient’s skin needs, skin goals, skin type, medical history, and physical condition before recommending the right course of action.

When is it time to consult a dermatologist?

I recommend that you consult a dermatologist if you are at an advanced age and wish to reduce the appearance of your crow’s feet. Alternatively, if you notice crow’s feet in your 20s and wish to reduce this sign of early aging, you can opt for a good in-clinic treatment.

What should you be aware of before going in for the treatment?

I like to inform my patients that not every treatment is suited to every case of crow’s feet. This is because everyone’s physiology is different. During your medical check-up, I inquire about any allergies to avoid any allergic reaction to the chemicals used in treatments. Furthermore, I like to know about any previous treatments that you have had recently.  Only once I have gathered all the relevant facts, I can recommend going ahead with a particular treatment.

Which treatments will be recommended by a dermatologist?

At The Bombay Skin Clinic, I offer the following crow’s feet treatments, which are hailed by my patients for giving fantastic results.

1. Botox – Also known as Botulinum toxin, this helps to smoothen out wrinkles formed due to repeated muscle contractions and is best-suited for people between the ages of 30 to 50. It is very effective against crow’s feet but not against deeper wrinkles among older adults. Botox is injected into the affected area with a small needle. It prevents muscles from contracting, causing the wrinkles to disappear or reduce, as noted by Harvard Health Publishing. The effects of Botox usually last around three months, so you may need multiple and regular treatments.
2. Fillers – Some of the best dermal filler needle injections used to treat crow’s feet are Belotero, Sculptra, Restylane, Radiesse, and Juvaderm. They are available in different strengths, wherein some of them are more permanent than others. This line of treatment is effective for static crow’s feet that appear when with a resting face. Its results last for a period between three months to a year, and maybe even longer. This is an effective treatment as noted by Stanford Health Care.
3. Chemical peels – These involve applying chemical solutions to the face to remove the outer skin layer to promote healthier, younger-looking skin. You can choose from superficial peels or medium peels. The effects and recovery time differs from peel to peel but they require no downtime and are relatively painless. For best results for your crow’s feet, I recommend repeating superficial peels every four weeks and medium peels every six months or a year. The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes the effective use of chemical peels to treat crow’s feet.
4. Laser surfacing – This uses ablative lasers to remove the upper skin layers to reveal younger, newer-looking skin. It heats up several skin layers to promote collagen production, thus helping the skin around the eyes to heal in a smoother, even manner. Medicine for pain will be given before the procedure. Healing may take a few weeks. It can tighten your skin and make you look 10 or 20 years younger, with results lasting for 10 years. It may not fully remove crow’s feet but in combination with Botox, it can work wonders.
5. Creams – Over-the-counter and prescription topical creams are available to help you fight fine lines and wrinkles. I recommend the use of Tretinoin (Retin-A), which is widely popular and used for battling aging signs, as it stimulates new skin production. You may also try anti-aging moisturizers to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet; do note that they may not work on deeper wrinkles. Topical creams can give results within 24 weeks.

What are the results to expect after the treatment?

Results will vary from patient to patient, depending on the severity of crow’s feet, type of skin, type of treatment used, and other factors. Generally, my patients have reported seeing a marked reduction in the appearance of crow’s feet and the development of younger-looking skin. While the results are long-lasting, they may not be permanent.

How many sessions will be required?

This again varies on a patient to patient basis. Some patients require only one session to see desired results while others require a few more. After evaluating your skin needs and goals, I will help you chart out a treatment plan in case multiple sessions are required.

Are there any risks involved with the treatments?

With injectable treatments and chemical peels, there is always the risk of an allergic reaction to the chemical used, so do disclose your medical records to the doctor before the treatment. With laser resurfacing, you may face some risks like irritation, redness, swelling, sensitivity, and the like. These are temporary and can be treated with effective post-treatment care.

What are the immediate and future skincare tips to maintain healthy skin?

Your skin will be sensitive immediately after the treatment, so I advise that you avoid direct sun exposure, heavy exercising that causes sweating, and touching your face excessively. For a few days after the treatment, you should take extra care of your skin to get the most out of the results and to maintain them. Use sunscreen when stepping out during the day, wear sunglasses, use mild make-up products, and avoid exfoliation. Also one important tip to prevent getting crows feet is to stop scrunching the eyes to read fine prints or to read without glasses on or also to stop straining eyes too much, All these can increase the chance of crows feet developing.

When should you opt out of a treatment?

You should not opt for a crow’s feet treatment if you only have a minor case of this condition and the wrinkles are barely visible. Moreover, if topical creams can resolve the matter, in-clinic treatments may not be necessary. So, while you can always consult with a dermatologist, in-clinic treatments are not for everyone.

Closing thoughts

To sum up, I’d like to reassure you that crow’s feet may feel like a major hindrance in your social life; however, they are only a minor inconvenience that can be easily addressed with the array of treatments available. Book an appointment with me at The Bombay Skin Clinic and let me help you get rid of this problem in no time!

References

1. Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/skin-and-hair/understanding-botox-injections
2. National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412106/
3. Stanford Health Care: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/d/dermal-fillers/conditions-treated.html