Crow’s Feet: What Causes Them and How to Soften Them

Crow’s feet are the fan of fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes. They form from years of smiling and squinting, which crease the thin skin there, and deepen as sun damage and age reduce collagen. Lines that appear only when you smile respond best to Botox, which is FDA-approved for crow’s feet and lasts about 3 to 4 months. Lines that stay when your face is relaxed also need treatments that improve the skin itself, such as Sofwave, Morpheus8 or laser resurfacing, along with daily sunscreen and a retinoid.

This guide explains what causes crow’s feet, which treatment suits your lines, how they compare, and what each costs.

What causes crow’s feet?

• Smiling and squinting: the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eye crinkles the skin every time you smile or squint.
• Thin skin: the skin around the eyes is among the thinnest on the body, so it creases easily.
• Sun damage: UV light breaks down collagen; squinting in bright sun adds to it.
• Age, smoking and dryness make the lines deeper and more visible.

Which treatment suits your crow’s feet?

• Lines only when you smileBotox or Dysport relaxes the muscle so the lines soften while you can still smile naturally.
• Fine lines at rest, crepey skinSofwave or the Morpheus8 eye protocol builds collagen around the eyes.
• Sun damage and textureHALO or MOXI resurfaces and smooths the skin.
• Deep, etched linesErbium resurfacing combined with Botox.
• Hollowness beside the eyeSometimes a little filler in the temple or cheek, placed by an experienced injector.

Botox for crow’s feet

Botox Cosmetic was FDA-approved for crow’s feet in 2013, at 24 units (12 on each side). A few small injections at the outer eye relax the muscle that crinkles the skin. Results start within days, peak at about two weeks and last around 3 to 4 months. A good injector keeps enough movement for a natural smile, because over-treating can flatten your expression or affect the cheek. Crow’s feet are often treated with the forehead and frown lines; see forehead wrinkles and frown lines.

Sofwave and Morpheus8 for lines at rest

When crow’s feet remain with your face relaxed, the skin itself needs more collagen. Sofwave delivers ultrasound to the mid-dermis without breaking the skin, usually in one session with little downtime; see our Sofwave guide. Morpheus8’s eye protocol uses radiofrequency microneedling over a short series. Results from both build over about three months.

At-home care

• Sunscreen and sunglasses every day.
• A gentle retinoid for the eye area, introduced slowly; see our retinol guide.
• Moisturizer: plumps fine dryness lines for a temporary improvement.
• Eye creams cannot relax the muscle, so expect modest results.

Crow’s feet treatment cost at Glow Theory

Botox is $14 per unit. See our Botox price guide.

Crow’s feet treatment in Carlsbad

We look at your lines at rest and when you smile, then recommend Botox, skin tightening or both. See Botox in Carlsbad, or book a visit at our studio on El Camino Real in South Carlsbad.