What are ‘crow’s feet’ and how can I avoid getting them?
“Crow’s feet” is the nickname given to the expression lines that form around your eyes – and they physically result from smiling, which is why they are so hard to avoid. The lines form from repeated expressions forming, and creasing the skin around the eyes.
How can I avoid them?
These simple tips will help mitigate against the risk of crow’s feet, although they are part of the natural ageing process, so although these will help, they are not guaranteed to be preventative.
Wear sunglasses with UV lenses
As tempting as it is to pick up a cheap and cheerful pair of sunglasses on holiday, paying a bit more for UV lenses is definitely worth it in the longer term.
Proper UV lenses will help protect your eyes from harmful rays, and if you continue wearing your sunglasses even when you are out of direct sunlight, it will help reduce the risk of crow’s feet developing due to squinting.
Use sun cream regularly
Using a moisturiser regularly that contains a sun protection factor (SPF) is recommended as this helps avoid damage to the skin caused by the sun.
Creams that contain as little as SPF15 can help, but if you are really taking this seriously, opt for the higher factors such as SPF30. Despite their higher factor, if you choose your products carefully you’ll be able to find ones that rub in just like a normal day moisturiser.
Exfoliate regularly
Exfoliating is a great way to keep your skin firm, improve the volume of the skin and also to smooth out the appearance of lines. By exfoliating, your skin is being helped to shed unwanted, dead skin cells, therefore encouraging the natural cycle of the skin to continue.
Ensure you’re getting a healthy, balanced diet
Making sure that your diet is enriched with fruit and vegetables is a good ethos to live by anyway, but it will also help your skin naturally combat wrinkles and crow’s feet.
You must also try to get enough protein in your diet, as your skin needs protein to produce elastin and collagen, both of which keep it firm. Foods such as chicken, eggs, yoghurt, fish and pistachio nuts contain good levels of protein, so try to weave these into your diet too.
If following these handy hints and tips doesn’t quite protect against crow’s feet to a satisfactory degree, then you may wish to consider expert help.
Surgeons such as Mr Alan Park treat crow’s feet simply and easily with botulinum toxin – commonly known as Botox. This is a very effective method for reducing wrinkles and crow’s feet, restoring a more youthful look and feel to the face.