Crows' feet are small wrinkles which appear around the eye, classically starting at the outer corner of the eye. Many people associate them with age, as they tend to deepen and expand with age, and some people consider them to be an undesirable trait. A number of products and services can be found for people who want to reduce their crows' feet, although most dermatologists agree that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in this case, and recommend a number of techniques for preventing the formation of crow's feet in the first place.
As you might imagine from the name, crows' feet can look sort of like the foot of a many-toed crow planted on the corner of the eye. They typically start small, slowly expanding and deepening with time, and they tend to be the first wrinkles to appear on the face. Over time, wrinkles will appear on other regions of the face as well, such as the forehead and cheeks.
The primary cause for crows' feet is exposure to sunlight. Sunlight ages the skin, and it also encourages people to squint, wrinkling the skin around their faces. Smoking is also a risk factor, because smokers tend to squint to protect their eyes from the irritants in the smoke. These wrinkles also tend to appear more rapidly in people with indifferent skincare regimens.
To prevent crows' feet, doctors recommend wearing a hat while in the sun, along with sunglasses. Smoking cessation is also a good idea, as in addition to reducing the appearance of wrinkles, it will also have other health benefits. Taking good care of the skin on the face with rich moisturizing creams is recommended as well, along with stretches to keep the skin and muscles of the face toned.
Even with preventative measures, crows' feet will still appear, although they may be smaller than they would be otherwise. They are simply part of the aging process. For people who really take issue with crows' feet, various surgical techniques can be used to smooth the skin, at least temporarily, and some people also use Botox injections to treat them. It is important to remember that these treatments come with complications, however, and some people prefer the distinguished look of a few wrinkles to the potential risks of cosmetic surgery.
