Crow's Feet: Prevention and Treatment

Crow's feet — the wrinkly imprints that appear along the corners of your eyes — are often one of first signs of aging. Learn what you can do to prevent them and how you can minimize their appearance with home or medical treatments.

 

In adolescence and young adulthood, crow's feet — also known as squint lines or worry lines — usually aren't a concern. That's because youthful skin has a lot of elastic fibers called elastin and a protective protein called collagen.
Over time, however, skin loses elastin and collagen, and the inevitable result is wrinkles. For many women, the appearance of crow's feet — radiating lines that form along the corners of the eyes — is the first distressing sign of aging.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to prevent these unwanted bird tracks from forming, and to minimize their appearance with home or medical treatments.
The Causes of Crow's Feet
You're more likely to develop crow's feet if you:

• Spend a lot of time in the sun.
• Smoke cigarettes.

Not only do both of these factors prematurely age the skin, but they force you to squint to avoid either excessive sunlight or irritating tobacco fumes, a muscle motion that promotes the formation of crow's feet.
Other factors associated with crow's feet include a family history of early wrinkling, dehydration, and even sleeping on your face.
Prevention of Crow's Feet
Most dermatologists agree that you're unlikely to develop crow's feet if you don't tan your face, smoke, or squint. So, starting early in life, the best prevention strategies include: