Crow's Feet

Overview

As you age, some parts of the face show it before others — the delicate area around the eyes especially. Crow's feet are the small lines spreading out from the corners of the eyes. They develop over time because of the tiny muscle contractions that happen every time you make a facial expression.

There are two kinds of wrinkle. Dynamic wrinkles appear during muscle contraction — if your crow's feet are mainly visible when you smile, they are probably dynamic. Static wrinkles may worsen with contraction but are visible all the time, even at rest. Either way there are treatment options, and in some people the signs can be reversed, at least temporarily.

Treatment

What you choose depends on the severity and on the result you want; sometimes a combination works best. We offer botulinum toxin (Botox) and dermal fillers.

Prevention

• Limit sun exposure, and wear SPF 30 or higher even for short periods.
• Wear sunscreen daily — a moisturiser or foundation with SPF 15+ counts.
• Eat well. Fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy oils protect skin from free-radical damage.
• Exercise. Daily movement brings oxygen to the skin.
• Wear polarised sunglasses, and a hat.
• Quit smoking — it produces free radicals, which makes wrinkles appear sooner.
• Use moisturisers and eye creams with collagen and antioxidants such as vitamin C.