Crow's Feet

Crow’s feet are the fine lines that fan out from the outer corners of the eyes. They are one of the earliest signs of ageing to appear. This is because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the face and the muscles there are in constant use. Every time you smile, laugh or squint, the muscle around the eye contracts and folds the skin. For years the skin springs back, but as collagen and elastin decline those creases start to linger and eventually settle in for good. In this guide we explain what causes crow’s feet and how to soften them using everyday skincare all the way through to professional and surgical treatments.

City Skin Clinic is an online skincare clinic. We provide and prescribe medical skincare and do not offer injectable treatments (dermal fillers or anti-wrinkle injections), energy-based devices or surgery. However, we have explained all the options below because we believe the public deserve clear, evidence-led information without commercial bias.

What Causes Crow’s Feet?

Crow’s feet are the lines that radiate from the outer corner of each eye. They are driven by a mix of movement due to the muscle that closes the eye and changes in the skin around the eyes. The main causes of crow’s feet are:

• Repeated muscle movement: The muscle that circles the eye contracts every time you smile, laugh or squint. Over decades this folds the skin in the same places again and again, creating the fan of lines at the outer corner. These are called dynamic lines, because they appear with expression.
• Thin, delicate skin: The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the face and has very few oil glands. This makes it quick to dry out and quick to show fine lines, so crow’s feet often appear here before anywhere else.
• Collagen & elastin loss: From the mid-20s the skin makes around 1% less collagen each year. As the skin loses its springiness, the creases left by muscle movement stop bouncing back and slowly become permanent.
• Sun damage: Ultraviolet light is the biggest external cause and accounts for up to 80% of visible facial ageing. It breaks down collagen and deepens crow’s feet, and squinting in bright light adds to the muscle movement that forms them.

The crucial thing to understand is that crow’s feet are a normal part of expression and ageing. How soon they show depends on your skin type, your sun exposure and how animated your face is. Fair skin with a history of sun-exposure tends to develop them earlier.

How are Crow’s Feet Treated?

Treating crow’s feet works on two fronts, the quality of the skin and the movement of the muscle beneath it. This is where crow’s feet differ from sagging or volume loss, because here good skincare genuinely helps. Building collagen and keeping the delicate skin hydrated softens fine and early lines and slows new ones forming. What skincare cannot do is stop the muscle creasing the skin, which is what relaxing injections are for. Nor can it smooth lines that are already deeply etched, which is where resurfacing comes in. We look at each below, starting with skincare.

Can Over-the-Counter Skincare Reduce Crow’s Feet?

Unlike sagging or lost volume, fine crow’s feet do respond well to good skincare. However, it works best on early lines and cannot do much for the deeper ones. The aim is to build collagen, keep the thin skin hydrated and protect it from the sun. The actives worth considering for fine lines around the eyes are:

• Retinoids: These are the most useful ingredients, because they build collagen and smooth fine lines over time. There are many different types of over-the-counter retinoids with different strengths and tolerance profiles. Around the delicate eye area it is best to introduce retinoids slowly to avoid irritation or dry eyes.
• Vitamin C: This antioxidant supports collagen and helps protect the skin from the sun damage that deepens crow’s feet. It can also help brighten the skin around the eyes.
• Peptides & hydration: Well-formulated eye creams with peptides and humectants like hyaluronic acid plump and smooth the skin. This can make fine lines look softer.
• Sunscreen: A daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 around the eyes is the single most effective step. It limits the UV that breaks down collagen and drives the lines.

What Can Prescription Skincare Do for Crow’s Feet?

Prescription anti-ageing skincare often contains stronger ingredients like tretinoin. This retinoid speeds up cell turnover and drives collagen production. As such tretinoin can more significantly help improve wrinkling, hyperpigmentation and skin texture. However, this also makes it more likely to cause irritation, which matters around the thin, sensitive eye area. So it is introduced carefully and is only available on prescription.

Tretinoin works well on the fine, static lines of crow’s feet, but it cannot relax the muscle that creates the dynamic ones. It is best used to keep the skin smooth and firm alongside whatever addresses the movement. It is usually prescribed at 0.01% to 0.1% and can be compounded with actives like niacinamide to support the skin.

Which Non-Surgical Treatments Work Best for Crow’s Feet?

Because crow’s feet come mainly from muscle movement, the most effective non-surgical treatments target that movement and resurface the skin. The best non-surgical treatments for crow’s feet are:

• Anti-wrinkle injections: This is the mainstay for treating dynamic crow’s feet (ie the wrinkles that are only there when you smile). Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscle around the eye so it stops creasing the skin, which softens the lines and slows new ones forming. The effect can last up to 3 to 4 months.
• Laser resurfacing: For lines that are etched in at rest, fractional laser removes the damaged surface layers and stimulates new collagen. Research shows it can improve periorbital static wrinkles. However, it needs recovery time and usually multiple treatment sessions.
• Microneedling: Traditional and RF microneedling creates tiny controlled injuries that prompt the skin to rebuild collagen. This gradually firms the skin around the eyes and softens fine lines, with less downtime than laser. It also requires multiple sessions.
• Dermal fillers & skin boosters: Filler is not usually placed in the crow’s feet themselves. However, a small amount in the temple or upper cheek can lift the area and ease deep static lines where volume loss has made them worse. Its role here is supporting rather than central. Skin booster injections can help improve skin quality around the eyes similar to microneedling but with fewer sessions.

Relaxing injections do most of the work for crow’s feet, whilst resurfacing and microneedling improve the quality of the skin around them. The right approach depends on whether your lines are mostly dynamic, mostly set in or a mix of both.

When is Surgery the Best Option for Crow’s Feet?

Surgery has a limited role in treating crow’s feet. Operations around the eyes include a blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) and a brow lift. These remove loose eyelid skin, reduce under-eye bags or raise a heavy brow. They do not treat the crow’s feet lines themselves, which come from muscle movement and skin quality rather than excess skin. So for crow’s feet specifically, the non-surgical options above are almost always the better route. Surgery is worth considering only when sagging eyelids or brows are the main concern. If you are considering surgery around the eyes, it is vital to consult with an experienced oculoplastic surgeon.

Can You Prevent Crow’s Feet?

You cannot avoid crow’s feet altogether, since they come from normal expression, but you can delay and soften them. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen matters most, because research shows it prevents measurable skin ageing and protects the collagen around the eyes. Wearing sunglasses in bright light helps too, since it reduces the squinting that drives the muscle movement behind the lines. Not smoking protects the skin’s collagen and elastin, and keeping the delicate eye area well moisturised keeps fine lines less obvious. Starting a good skincare routine early gives the best long-term protection.

At City Skin Clinic, our doctors create personalised skincare to target the signs of ageing using actives like tretinoin where appropriate. Every plan starts with an online consultation built around your skin and your goals. Start your online consultation today. The journey towards great skin starts here.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical professional with any concerns about your skin or treatment options.