Getting Rid of Crow’s Feet: What Actually Works?

I’m pretty lucky. Thanks to good genes, daily sunscreen since my teens and lots of big sunglasses (I hate squinting, I will wear sunglasses outside at any possible moment), my eyes are relatively wrinkle free for my age. But that doesn’t mean I ignore that area! I’m all about eye creams (check out dermatologists’ favorite eye creams if you need a good one).

But if you really want to see results when treating your crow’s feet, rather than just preventing them from appearing (like me), what should you do? I asked a few dermatologists for their favorites to actually treat crow’s feet.

At Home

Eric Schweiger, MD is a Dermatologist at Clear Clinic Acne Treatment Center in New York City
Daily use of an eye cream to plump up the skin around the eyes will also help. Wearing sunglasses will also help prevent more crow’s feet from forming.

Karen Stolman, MD is a Dermatologist in Salt Lake City and she writes Skinality
For at home, I recommend topicals containing retinoids and growth factors.

Debra Jaliman, MD is a Dermatologist in New York City
For crows feet it’s good to use retinol at night but be sure to uses a sunscreen in the morning. You can also use peptides which stimulates collagen production.

Fayne L. Frey, MD is a Dermatologist in West Nyack, NY and the founder of Fry Face, a product selection tool
As moisturizers, anti-wrinkle creams increase hydration of the skin temporarily reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles! The most effective way to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, including crows feet around the eyes, is to moisturize the skin in the morning and evening. Apply sunscreen daily, scientifically proven to be the most effective over the counter anti-aging preventative on the market today.

Dr. Goldfaden
At home you can use any types of eye creams. Look for ingredients such as Arnica, hyaluronic acid, rice bran extract and soy peptides. These help to remove darkness, puffiness and wrinkles. Our Bright Eyes targets darkness, puffiness and fine lines and wrinkles.

In The Doctor’s Office

Eric Schweiger, MD is a Dermatologist at Clear Clinic Acne Treatment Center in New York City
For in-office, Botox is hands down the best option for crow’s feet. It has the ability to erase them in a single treatment. It just received FDA-approval for crow’s feet last year.

Karen Stolman, MD is a Dermatologist in Salt Lake City and she writes Skinality
My favorite in-office crow’s feet and periorbital wrinkle treatment are in order from short-term to longer term are: Botox, fillers, radio-frequency tightening, laser resurfacing.

Debra Jaliman, MD is a Dermatologist in New York City
As a dermatologist I offer Botox injections for the crows feet. I also perform non-ablative laser procedures. The genesis laser is very effective for crows feet as is the Medlite laser. It take a series of 4-6 lasers performed 2 weeks apart.

Fayne L. Frey, MD is a Dermatologist in West Nyack, NY and the founder of Fry Face, a product selection tool
Dermatologists can offer an array of treatments that can improve the appearance of aging. Prescription strength retinoids, vitamin A derivatives, can have a beneficial effect. Chemical peels, laser treatments, injectables like BOTOX and fillers can all be utilized to minimize the appearance of the aging face.

Image: Alexandre Croussette via Unsplash