As much as we hate to admit it, everyone ages. We can’t avoid it. However, we can take steps to delay the visual effects of aging, particularly on the skin.
Certain aging processes begin as early as 30 years old, yet most visual effects of aging, due to atrophy and other causes, occur much later in most people.
One of the most obvious signs of aging is eye wrinkles. There are different types of eye wrinkles, but crow’s feet are one of the most noticeable, and the most frustrating.
Wondering what these facial wrinkles are and what you can do to get rid of them? Keep reading below to learn how to keep your face looking and feeling young.
What Are Crow’s Feet?
Crow’s feet are a form of eye wrinkles. They are little lines that extend out from the corner of your eye. They bear a resemblance to birds’ feet, meaning they are quite unflattering.
All day long, over the course of decades, muscles near your eyes are contracting as you make facial expressions. These wrinkles are the result of a lifetime of muscle contractions.
Some people are a little more fortunate and have dynamic eye wrinkles. These only appear during certain facial expressions, such as when you smile.
Others are less fortunate and have static eye wrinkles, which are always present, whether your muscles are contracting or your face is at rest.
There are a few ways that you can reverse the effects of crow’s feet. And there are also ways to hide it.
Preventing Crow’s Feet
If you don’t yet have crow’s feet, count yourself lucky. There are a few simple things you can do to delay their onset or lessen their severity.
The most important thing is to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation. Sunlight is both a blessing and a curse.
When spending time in the sun, make sure to wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Also, apply a moisturizer to your face daily.
Avoid using tanning beds, which damage the skin unnecessarily. And quit smoking (or never start) as the free radicals produced in your body can make wrinkles appear sooner.
Eating healthy and getting daily exercise also play a role in circulating blood and providing your skin with the nutrients it needs to stay fresh and young.
Hiding Crow’s Feet
Want to start with something easy, that you can do today to make your face look fresher? Concealing crow’s feet can be challenging depending on the severity.
Sometimes, however, these simple tips can help.
For starters, apply an eye cream that moisturizes the area. Do this twice a day.
To make the lines appear smoother (and less noticeable), you can rub in a silicone primer, which fills in the actual cracks to create a smooth surface.
You’ll find out quickly that lots of makeup can actually make eye wrinkles look worse, not better. Rather than applying a heavy coat, keep your makeup to a minimum.
Don’t use powders, and make sure to blend well. And don’t apply anything that would draw attention to your eyes. Instead, focus on the lips or cheeks to make the area around the eyes blend in rather than stand out.
Wrinkle Treatment Options
Tired of seeing those wrinkles each time you look in the mirror? There are a few things you can do to make them go away or to make them a lot less noticeable.
Wrinkle Cream
Numerous topical creams are available as at-home treatments, both over the counter and via prescription from your dermatologist. They work by supporting the production of new skin cells.
They work best on crow’s feet with thinner lines, rather than deep channels. For thin lines, topical creams can reduce their appearance and make them much less noticeable.
Fillers
Applying a temple filler has the potential to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet as well as stress veins, improving the appearance of your entire upper face.
Temple fillers are safe treatment options that aren’t permanent, unlike surgeries designed to enhance the temple.
As you age, your upper face loses volume, leading to a hollow look that ultimately creates crow’s feet. Temple fillers restore that volume and re-contour the face.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are another topical solution that removes the outer layer of old skin and reveals a new, younger layer of skin underneath. A topical chemical solution is used to remove old skin cells.
The new skin is smooth, younger-looking, and features improved wrinkles around the eyes.
Superficial peels are the lightest, removing the least amount of skin. Typically, they are pain-free and won’t require a healing process. But they’ll need to be repeated on a regular basis.
Additional types of peels are available that reach a medium depth, or deep penetration. These can be more painful and may require a recovery process, but the effects last much longer.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
The old skin on the face can also be removed via laser as opposed to chemical peels. It’s an intense procedure that may require pain medicine before and after.
A laser is used to heat up several layers of skin, removing the top layer. Heat applied to deeper layers of the skin promotes collagen growth, which helps to heal the skin and promote a more youthful appearance.
There will be a recovery time, and you may need to keep your face wrapped for several days. Expect it to take a few weeks before your face is fully healed.
The effects, however, are drastic and can last for many years.
The procedure isn’t used just to fight crow’s feet. It’s used to make the whole face appear younger. Sometimes, additional methods are used in conjunction to deal with crow’s feet.
Age With Purpose
Nobody wants to deal with crow’s feet, but we are all susceptible to eye wrinkles as we age. With a little knowledge and the right tools at your disposal, however, you can either delay the effects of wrinkles or take steps to reduce their appearance once they show up. Looking for more health and beauty tips like this? Visit our blog now to keep reading.