What Causes Crow's Feet and How to Treat Them

Crow's feet are one of the first signs of skin aging that many people notice. These fine lines form at the outer corners of the eyes and often become more visible when you smile, laugh, or squint. While they're a natural part of getting older, there are plenty of ways to soften their appearance and help prevent new lines from forming.

Whether you're just starting to notice crow's feet or you're looking for treatment options, here's everything you need to know—including how treatments like Botox® Cosmetic and advanced skincare can help smooth the look of these common eye wrinkles.

What Are Crow's Feet?

Crow's feet are the fine lines and wrinkles that develop at the outer corners of the eyes. Also known as lateral canthal lines, they typically appear because the muscles around your eyes contract repeatedly over time during everyday facial expressions like smiling, laughing, and squinting.

At first, these lines are only visible when your face is moving. These are called dynamic wrinkles. As collagen and elastin naturally decline with age, those expression lines can eventually become visible even when your face is at rest, turning into static wrinkles.

Crow's feet are one of the most common facial wrinkles and can begin appearing as early as your late 20s or 30s, depending on factors like genetics, sun exposure, and lifestyle habits.

What Causes Crow's Feet?

Several factors contribute to the development of crow's feet.

Repeated Facial Expressions

Every smile, laugh, and squint causes the muscles around your eyes to contract. Over time, these repeated movements create visible lines in the skin.

Natural Collagen Loss

As you age, your body produces less collagen and elastin—the proteins responsible for keeping skin firm, smooth, and resilient. With less structural support, expression lines become more noticeable.

Sun Exposure

Ultraviolet (UV) rays accelerate collagen breakdown, making sun exposure one of the biggest contributors to premature skin aging around the eyes.

Daily sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin from developing wrinkles.

Smoking

Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and increases oxidative stress, both of which accelerate visible signs of aging, including crow's feet.

Genetics

Some people naturally develop wrinkles earlier than others based on their genetics and skin type.

When Do Crow's Feet Usually Appear?

There's no universal timeline.

Some people begin noticing fine lines around their eyes in their late 20s, while others don't develop noticeable crow's feet until their 40s or later.

Factors that influence when crow's feet appear include:

  • Age
  • Genetics
  • Sun exposure
  • Smoking
  • Skincare habits
  • Facial expressions

The good news is that early treatment can help minimize their appearance before they become more deeply etched into the skin.

Can You Prevent Crow's Feet?

You can't completely stop the natural aging process, but you can slow the development of crow's feet by taking care of your skin.

Healthy habits include:

  • Wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day
  • Wearing sunglasses outdoors to reduce squinting
  • Using medical-grade skincare with ingredients like retinol and antioxidants
  • Keeping your skin well hydrated
  • Avoiding smoking
  • Following a consistent skincare routine

These habits help support healthier-looking skin and protect collagen over time.

What Is the Best Treatment for Crow's Feet?

The best treatment depends on how noticeable your wrinkles are and the results you're hoping to achieve.

For dynamic crow's feet caused by muscle movement, Botox Cosmetic is considered the gold standard.

Botox Cosmetic

Botox Cosmetic temporarily relaxes the muscles responsible for repeated facial expressions that create crow's feet.

As those muscles relax, the skin appears smoother while still allowing for natural-looking facial movement when administered by an experienced injector.

Results typically begin appearing within several days and can last approximately three to four months, after which maintenance treatments help preserve your results.

Can Xeomin Treat Crow's Feet?

Yes.

Xeomin® is another FDA-approved neuromodulator that works similarly to Botox Cosmetic by temporarily relaxing the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles.

Your provider can help determine which injectable is the best fit based on your aesthetic goals and treatment plan.

Can Laser Treatments Improve Crow's Feet?

Laser treatments can help improve the overall quality of the skin around the eyes.

Treatments like Clear + Brilliant® support healthier-looking skin by improving skin texture, tone, and the appearance of early signs of aging. While laser treatments don't replace neuromodulators for expression lines, they can complement injectable treatments as part of a comprehensive skin maintenance routine.

Can Medical-Grade Skincare Help?

Absolutely.

While skincare can't relax facial muscles, it can help improve the overall appearance of the skin and support collagen health.

Look for products that contain ingredients such as:

  • Retinol
  • Vitamin C
  • Peptides
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Broad-spectrum sunscreen

Consistent skincare helps protect your investment if you've had cosmetic treatments while supporting smoother, healthier-looking skin over time.

Should You Treat Crow's Feet Early?

Many people are choosing to address crow's feet while they're still mild.

Treating dynamic wrinkles before they become deeply etched into the skin can help maintain a smoother appearance over time. Whether you decide to start injectables, invest in medical-grade skincare, or simply prioritize daily sunscreen, taking action early can make a meaningful difference.

Why Choose LaserAway?

At LaserAway, our experienced medical professionals customize every treatment plan based on your individual goals.

Whether you're interested in Botox Cosmetic, Xeomin, or treatments that improve overall skin quality, we'll help you choose the right approach for your needs. All treatments are performed by registered nurses, nurse practitioners, or physician associates under the clinical oversight of board-certified dermatologists.

The Bottom Line

So, what are crow's feet? They're the fine lines that develop at the outer corners of your eyes as a result of repeated facial expressions, collagen loss, and natural skin aging.

While crow's feet are a completely normal part of aging, they're also highly treatable. From daily sun protection and medical-grade skincare to Botox Cosmetic and complementary laser treatments, there are more options than ever to help smooth wrinkles and maintain healthy, radiant-looking skin.

If you're ready to explore personalized treatment options, schedule a complimentary consultation with LaserAway to learn which approach is right for you.

References

  1. "Sustainability of Preventative Botox for the Anti-Aging Process," International Journal of Medical Science and Research, November 23, 2023.