Crow’s feet are fine lines or wrinkles etched at the corner of the eyes. They’re named as such for their resemblance to the outstretched gnarly toes of a crow’s foot. More so than any other wrinkle on the face, crow’s feet are expressive and can often appear to look deeper or more pronounced on the skin.
Sun exposure is a leading cause of crow’s feet. The other is the loss of collagen and elasticity that accompanies the ageing process. Collagen keeps skin supple and firm while elastin helps skin bounce back after facial expressions. A reduction in these two elements means that repeated facial expressions like smiling and laughing result in lines and wrinkles due to the inability of the skin to bounce back as easily.
The skin around our eyes is quite thin so it tends to lose collagen and elasticity first. Though some people view crow’s feet as a charming aspect of a happy ageing process, others feel that it makes them look tired. A good eye cream can go a long way to improve the look of crow’s feet, but it cannot relax the facial muscles that create these expressions and cause these lines. The good news is that there are medical treatments that can do so safely and quickly.