Face wrinkles like crow’s feet are a natural sign of getting older—but that doesn’t make them any less frustrating to deal with. In this article, we’ll discuss why crow’s feet develop and what you can do to slow or prevent them.

Eventually, it happens to all of us: you wake up one morning and suddenly spot tiny wrinkles (also known as “crow’s feet”) at the corners of your eyes.

Wrinkles around the eyes are a universal side effect of aging1—and, try as we might, there’s no way to stop the clock. But is there a way to slow or prevent the development of crow’s feet?

How to Prevent Crow’s Feet

Don’t Smoke

Cigarettes aren’t just bad for your lungs—they’re bad for your skin, too! Smoking is proven to impair the flow of blood to your face, and can thereby accelerate the aging process of your skin2. There are also more than 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes that can permanently damage the essential collagen and elastin in your face that protects your skin from wrinkling. If you want to prevent wrinkles, consider quitting smoking.

Adjust Your Sleeping Habits

The right sleep schedule can encourage a healthy oxygen flow and support soft, young-looking skin; however, studies have shown that certain sleeping positions can cause wrinkles on the face and chest3. Sleeping on your back is the best way to avoid wrinkles, but a silk pillowcase can also help reduce friction and tugging of the facial skin.

Avoid Processed Foods

If you’re trying to slow or prevent the development of wrinkles like crow’s feet, it might be time to re-evaluate your diet. High sugar or high fat foods can cause inflammation in the body, which is proven to accelerate the formation of wrinkles4. Instead, try to incorporate foods like avocados, salmon, flaxseed oil, and olive oil into your diet. The high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids can help your skin retain its smooth, natural beauty.

The Unavoidable Factor

While there are lifestyle changes you can make to slow or prevent wrinkles like crow’s feet, there is one factor that contributes to aging and is impossible to avoid—gravity. In addition to keeping us on solid ground, the forces of gravity work over time to break down the collagen in our skin and create wrinkles5.

You can’t fight gravity—but daily facial moisturizing, paying attention to your diet, and quitting or reducing your unhealthy habits can help keep your skin looking youthful and your eyes feeling healthy.

If you’re struggling with crow’s feet, the Master Aestheticians at Vistar Eye Center are here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our wrinkle reduction treatments.