Where Did These Crows Feet Come From, and What Can I Do to Get Rid of Them?

Crow’s feet are fan-like wrinkles that spread out from the corners of your eyes when you smile or squint. Sometimes, the wrinkles persist even after you’ve relaxed your face.

Most people start to notice crow’s feet in their 30s. However, depending on your genetics and other factors, they may appear as early as your 20s or not until you’re after 40.

No matter your age, when you develop crow’s feet, you don’t want to keep them. Fortunately, you can quickly resolve your crow’s feet by going to the dermatologist’s office.

At Dermatology Institute & Skin Care Center, our dermatologist, Paul Yamauchi, MD, PhD, treats crow’s feet with injectable Botox® at our Santa Monica, California, clinic. We also offer therapies to improve your skin health.

Why do you have crow’s feet? Will Botox help you smile wrinkle- and worry-free? The answers are below.

How you got crow’s feet
Just as your first gray hair can be a shock, so can your first crow’s feet. That spread of wrinkles at the corner of your eyes makes you look older than you feel.

As with all wrinkles, crow’s feet form when your skin quality deteriorates. When you age, your skin produces fewer essential proteins, such as collagen and elastin, that keep your skin plump and resilient.

Thinner and less elastic skin is more likely to develop wrinkles when you make facial expressions. It’s also less likely to recover when you relax your face. That’s why crow’s feet may persist even when you’re not smiling.

In addition to aging, sun exposure can accelerate or worsen your crow’s feet. The sun’s ultraviolet rays cause DNA damage in your skin cells, making it more prone to wrinkles (and skin cancer). That’s why you should always wear a high-quality and broad-spectrum sunscreen outdoors.

Males are also more likely to develop crow’s feet at a younger age than females. That is because they have higher amounts of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) which break down collagen in the skin.

Finally, you may have inherited your tendency to develop crow’s feet. In fact, people with pale or thin skin are more likely to have crow’s feet, as are those whose parents or other relatives have them.

Treat crow’s feet directly
The easiest way to remove crow’s feet is to erase them with injectable therapies, such as Botox. Botox is a neuromodulator used to safely and effectively reduce crow’s feet for over 20 years.

Botox is a highly purified neurotoxin that blocks the signals your brain sends to the muscles at the corners of your eyes that create crow’s feet. Once the muscle relaxes, you can’t squint deeply enough to create or reinforce your crow’s feet. Your skin relaxes and smooths out so your crow’s feet can’t be seen anymore.

Botox can take up to a couple of weeks to fully relax the dynamic muscles that cause crow’s feet. It lasts for 3-4 months before needing a touch-up.

Even when your Botox is at full strength, you never have to worry about having a “frozen” face. Our team is experts at administering just enough Botox to prevent crow’s feet but not enough to interfere with your beaming smile or other expressions.

Improve your skin quality
Botox is the fastest way to address and erase crow’s feet directly. But, depending on your needs, you might also consider adding laser therapy to improve your skin quality.

As mentioned, wrinkles are caused by a lack of collagen and protein in your skin. Laser treatments use heat and energy to create micro wounds in the deep layers of your skin that trigger a healing process. Then, your skin produces more collagen and elastin, making it more resilient and “younger.”

You’re less likely to develop or reinforce crow’s feet once your skin quality improves. Combining Botox to erase crow’s feet and laser therapy to reduce wrinkles and sagging is a highly effective way to ensure your smile makes you look as youthful and energized as you feel.

To erase crow’s feet with Botox or improve your skin with laser treatments, phone our friendly staff today for treatment. You can also send us a message online to schedule an appointment.