Crow's feet, also known as "laughter lines" or "character lines", are the lines that appear around the eyes as a result of habitual squinting and smiling. They are called crow’s feet because they radiate outwards from the eye resembling the feet of a crow.
Crow’s feet are caused by habitual squinting and smiling due to frequent contraction of the orbicularis oculi, a muscle responsible for closing the eyelids. Other factors include sun exposure (UV light damage) and smoking which damages collagen and elastin fibres and deprives the skin of blood flow and oxygen.
Crow’s feet usually develop in our mid to late thirties. With ageing, crow’s feet can develop into deep static lines that are present even without smiling or squinting.
At Bedford Skin Clinic we offer Botox as the first line treatment for crow’s feet as for the majority this is the only treatment required. However, for deep static lines (lines present without smiling/laughing), a combination of Botox and dermal filler can produce the best results. There is a range of other treatments available to help crow’s feet. These include Platelet Rich Plasma and for clients who would prefer not to have injectable treatments, we offer microneeedling (Dermapen, Dermastamp and Dermaroller), chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser treatments.
We advise our clients to be conscious of how often they engage these muscles and reduce this when possible. Adhering to a diet rich in antioxidants (fresh fruit, vegetables, vitamins and minerals) smoking cessation, as well as avoiding sun beds and excessive sun exposure can all help to reduce the appearance of frown lines.