Crow’s feet are the small ‘expression lines’ that form at the outer corners of the eyes. When we smile, laugh, squint or screw up the eyes, the ring-like obicularis oculi muscle that is responsible for opening and closing the eye, contracts and then relaxes.
The skin overlying these muscles folds and stretches with the contraction and relaxation of the muscle. This type of skin wrinkling or line formation are known as dynamic lines. That is to say, we see them when the facial muscles are working.
Over time as our skin ages and there is a loss of skin elasticity, these expression lines become static lines and do not disappear, even when the muscle is at rest. These lines become deeper with contributory factors such as sun exposure, repeated facial muscle expressions and genetic factors.
How Can I Avoid Crow’s Feet?
Prevention of crow’s feet is always the best cure!
We recommend our clients at Mandalay Sensoria to religiously wear sunscreen. At least factor SPF 30 and to reapply it regularly. This helps to keep the collagen and elastic fibres, responsible for keeping the skin plump and elastic, in good shape and making the skin more resilient to wrinkles.
We also recommend wearing sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat to shield the eyes from harmful UV rays too. By creating shade, you are less likely to create dynamic lines around your eyes in bright sunlight which helps to avoid crow’s feet becoming etched into your skin. If you need prescription glasses, wear them! Squinting the eyes to focus on objects can also increase the likelihood of crow’s feet with the repetitive muscle contraction.
Avoid smoking and vaping too. The plumes of smoke and vapour that drift towards the eyes can cause you to squint, adding to the development of crow’s feet. Employ stress management techniques to avoid sadness, anger and anxiety in your life, all of which can cause facial expressions that create dynamic wrinkling around the eyes.
At Mandalay Sensoria we like to look at your face and body holistically. Combining aesthetic treatments with stress-reducing services such as massage, facials, head in the clouds massage, foot bliss treatment or reflexology supports general health and wellbeing. This helps with reducing stress, aids blood circulation and aids the benefits of aesthetic treatments.
Eating a diet high in antioxidants can help to fight free radical damage that contribute to the formation of skin wrinkles. Get plenty of plant-based compounds such as vitamin C from citrus fruits, vitamins E from nuts and seeds, carotenoids from colourful vegetables, flavonoids and polyphenols from tea, berries and small amounts of dark chocolate. At Mandalay Sensoria, we believe that a holistic approach is always best: look after the inner person!
Use skin care products that help to support the structure and function of the skin. We recommend a bio-available vitamin C serum during the day and a retinol eye cream at night to support collagen production in the skin, keeping it youthful and supple. We give you a personalised homeware plan to support your skin health.
The Best Treatment for Crow’s Feet at Mandalay Sensoria
Undoubtedly, our most popular, fastest and most effective treatment for crow’s feet is an injectable neuromodulator, often known as ‘botox’.
Botox is a registered trademarked product and is often used as a ‘catch all’ label for any neuromodulator. There are several that are licensed for use in the UK and our prescriber prescribes Azzalure.
Neuromodulators work by ‘resting’ some of the outer muscle fibres of the ring-like muscle (obicularis oculi) which reduces excessive tightening of the muscle and wrinkling of the overlying skin. Tiny amounts of neuromodulator are injected superficially around the outer corners of the eyes. This is a quick and comfortable procedure, giving noticeable and measurable results.
Results can start to be seen and felt within the first few days. Deeper lines can take a while to go and may need to be combined with other treatments. Be mindful that with any injection, bruising can occur so never schedule this type of treatment within two weeks of a special event. This treatment needs to be repeated every 4-6 months, depending on muscle activity.
Anti-wrinkle injections for crow’s feet is not suitable for everyone. If you are inclined to have puffy eyes it can cause lymph to collect in the under-eye area as the fluid is not ‘pumped’ away as efficiently. Using lower doses and fewer injection points can help to reduce the risk of this occurring. Each client is treated individually at Mandalay Sensoria and you will receive your own treatment plan.
Other Crow’s Feet Treatments
Other treatments for crow’s feet at Mandalay Sensoria include:
Skin peels: the use of gentle fruit acids to exfoliate and improve collagen production can reduce depth and appearance of wrinkles. The products we use are gentle for the delicate eye area. We use Dermalogica Pro Power Eye Peel in the Pro Eye Flash Treatment Protocol. Each pad is saturated with fruit acids formulated for this sensitive area.
Skin needling or ‘microneedling’: the skin around the eye area is the thinnest on the face. The needle depth is set very superficial and creates a regenerative effect on this thin skin. Collagen is produced over time to give strength and resilience to this delicate eye area. The downtime is minimal and can be used to soften mild to moderate skin wrinkling in this expressive facial region. Microneedling combines the mechanical, controlled collagen stimulation with a powerful serum to enhance its anti-ageing effects.
Both peels and microneedling produce slower results than neuromodulators but are often long-lasting. They can be delivered in unison to pair smooth and consistent skin texture with anti-wrinkling benefits. Skin peels and microneedling are very good preventative treatments for crow’s feet and can be started at a younger age to help stop crow’s feet from forming.
If your crow’s feet are deep and well-established they may never disappear fully with beauty treatments, but they can always be improved.
Each client is treated individually at Mandalay Sensoria, and you will receive your own treatment plan, taking into account your personal preferences, skin condition, age, lifestyle, budget and time constraints.
You can read more about the delicate eye area here
To book a consultation please follow this link here. Consultation fees are partly redeemable against treatment.
We look forward to helping you combat your crow’s feet at:
Mandalay Sensoria, Tarporley Road, Duddon, CW6 0EW
