Is there actually a worse word than "crow's feet"—seriously! Especially when you could just talk about laugh lines or wrinkles. Sounds so much more appealing. Sure, the dreaded "F-word" is in there. But so is "laughter." And that, at least, has positive connotations.
When the tension decreases
In this blog post, we want to take a closer look at the formation of crow's feet – and how women can prevent them or even get rid of them. But first, a personal observation: How unfair is it that men of advanced age usually have laugh lines, while women over 20 are called crow's feet? Yet these characteristic lines around the eyes do evoke a sense of warmth and friendliness. Psychologists have long since discovered that they make our faces appear more vibrant. The wrinkles reflect positive emotions and are perceived as expressions of joie de vivre and humor. But… they also represent a loss of elasticity in our skin. In our youth, these wrinkles only appear when we laugh – hence the name. Later, they remain on the face even when we are relaxed – and take on their characteristic, radiating shape. The reason is easily explained: The tissue under and beside the eyes is particularly thin. There are hardly any lipid depots, or fat reserves, here to provide internal cushioning. From around the mid- to late twenties, areas of deficiencies increase, meaning the skin becomes thinner. As bad as that sounds, this process is part of natural aging. It simply cannot be stopped. Or, to put it more kindly: only with motivation and plenty of initiative.
Every day – a real laugh
Perhaps a few more words for clarification. So that it's clear we're talking about a kind of competition against ourselves. It's not just a lack of fat that causes laugh lines to turn into crow's feet. The extremely active eye muscles also strain the tissue. We all blink around 50 times a minute, up to 14,000 times a day. That's assuming we get eight hours of sleep. Otherwise, our eyelids close even more frequently. On top of that, we laugh 15 to 20 times a day – ranging from a smile to a hearty laugh. Again, the skin around the eyes is compressed. Not so nice – many will think. But who wants to deprive themselves of a good time just to avoid wrinkles?
Prevention and correction
So, let's get to the point: What does the fight against crow's feet look like? There is indeed plenty of hope of winning this battle. Time and time again. Because only cosmetic surgery offers a permanent solution. But those who don't want to look as if their facial skin has been gathered up at the back of their head... can opt for gentle and risk-free measures. Since prevention and correction are often not so far apart, we'll now present the best tips as a combined package. For the sake of completeness, the possibilities of aesthetic medicine are also mentioned in the lower part of this article.
Hyaluronic acid is king!
Yes, hyaluronic acid's triumphant march continues. There's hardly anything better for combating lines and wrinkles. This active ingredient provides moisture and thus prevents dry skin. The smaller its molecules (down to oligo-, or micro-)hyaluronic acid, the deeper it penetrates the skin – and binds water there. A plumping effect is guaranteed. For optimal results, apply eye pads just under the eyelids. This provides additional cooling. Hyaluronic acid is also so well-suited for the eye area because it doesn't irritate this sensitive area.
Eye pads are a must!
Eye pads were briefly mentioned in the previous paragraph. Even without hyaluronic acid, they are invaluable in treating crow's feet.For example, when they're soaked in aloe vera. Fresh from the refrigerator (they can wait up to 20 minutes before use), they provide the skin with moisture and cooling. A cure-all for dark circles and puffy eyes – but also for crow's feet, pardon me: laugh lines.
Not without my UV protection!
Every reader of our 48grams blog should already know this: Never leave the house without sun protection. Even if the sun isn't shining, the radiation exposure on your skin remains. Therefore, it accelerates aging. So, ladies (and yes, gentlemen too): Buy sunscreen. Ideally, with combined UVA/UVB protection.
Vitamin C – your daily lifesaver!
Products with a high vitamin C content are a true anti-aging wonder. The "high" C is an antioxidant – meaning it significantly protects the skin from harmful free radicals. These are produced u.a. Stress, smoking of any kind, alcohol, and the aforementioned UV radiation all contribute to premature skin aging. In summary: Vitamin C helps prevent premature skin aging.
You are what you eat!
We can't say it often enough: A person's lifestyle is reflected in their (facial) skin. Those who turn night into day, who can't keep their hands off alcohol and cigarettes, who have to endure daily stress at work, who don't exercise enough, and who don't drink enough water... find it difficult to maintain a youthful, fresh appearance. At least after the age of 30. That's when the body's ability to regenerate begins to decline. However, there's one factor that makes everything even worse: poor diet. A visit to the burger joint, a quick pasta dish in the evening, ready-made meals in plastic packaging – the lack of freshness and vitamins really needs to be emphasized on this list. But let's be honest, and to use a "beautiful" analogy: If you water your roses with old motor oil, you shouldn't expect any blooms.
The miracle of the DIY mask
Before we get to the aforementioned options in aesthetic medicine, here's a tip for the DIY generation: Yes, there are also home remedies for crow's feet, both for prevention and treatment. We recommend masks made from quark or avocado. Those popular cucumber slices from the refrigerator also do the trick. If you have it on hand, you can try pure aloe vera. Those who follow these tips regularly will see visible results.
Opportunity: Aesthetic Medicine
Of course, we know that these "long shot" methods require a certain amount of patience. Anyone who has neither the time nor the inclination to resort to natural remedies can consult a dermatologist (no, NOT a cosmetic surgeon). Here, we present ways to get rid of crows on your face. With a long-lasting effect:
1. Hyaluronic acid
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A simple procedure, but also very effective: The specialist injects a hyaluronic gel into the tissue – z.B. Under the eyes. The result is almost immediate. The skin is plumped from within, wrinkles disappear. Goodbye crow's feet. At least for about six months. Then the procedure needs to be repeated. Cost: from €250.
2. Microneedling
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A rather painful procedure. The dermatologist runs a small roller covered with fine needles over the desired areas of skin. This creates tiny wounds, which stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. These naturally occurring substances then automatically begin fighting wrinkles.Another advantage: Creams and serums are absorbed much better in the phase following microneedling, thus having a stronger effect. The cost for such a treatment is between €200 and €300.
3. Botox
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The classic wrinkle treatment. It's been used for many years – and yes, very effective. Of course, it also works against crow's feet. But the major drawback remains the same: Botox is injected directly into the muscle, causing it to "freeze." At least for a period of 5 to 6 months. While the wrinkles are (largely) eliminated, the same applies to facial expressions. The cost of a crow's feet treatment with Botox is around €200.
