Smile too much? You can use Botox for those crow's feet

When I smile my “crow’s feet” lines become very evident and it makes me feel quite self-conscious. But if I don’t smile I look so stern! What’s the easiest way to get rid of these wrinkles and how do I prevent them in the future?

There’s a difference between “smile lines” and “crow’s feet”. Smile lines are the tiny creases that appear at the corners of the eyes only when you smile. Crow’s feet are always there.
Crow’s feet usually show up when we reach our 30s, another natural result of ageing. The skin becomes weaker as we age and lines become more visible. Repetitive motions that cause your skin to crease, such as smiling, squinting and frowning, can break the collagen and elastic fibres in the skin and produce permanent lines.
Since the cause is the motions of the muscles in that area, one solution is to stop the muscles from moving. Injecting botulinum toxin (Botox) can help reduce crow’s feet. Just recently the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Botox for the temporary improvement of crow’s feet, making it the only FDA-approved drug option for crow’s feet available today.
However, just because the procedure is approved doesn’t mean it’s 100-per-cent safe. As with anything to do with the eyes, extra caution must be taken. Consult only a reliable doctor and make sure the botulinum being injected is of high quality. Using Botox to treat crow’s feet, if done incorrectly, can cause the eyelids to swell or leave you with an odd facial expression.
When treating crow’s feet there are usually no concerns about the “frozen face” effect because the muscles treated aren’t used in most facial expressions. However, if the doctor is unskilled and injects the substance into the wrong area, it can result in unnatural expression or even asymmetric facial features.
Botulinum toxin works by keeping muscles from tightening, and therefore wrinkles and lines are less prominent. Smaller lines can be completely eliminated, while deeper lines will become less pronounced.
In general, high-quality Botox can remain in effect for six months or longer, while substandard ones might not yield any result at all or produce results that disappear within a few weeks. Do not fall for low prices, because they usually come with low quality. Never, ever buy Botox online. Always have a skilled dermatologist inject it. The risk is not worth saving a little money.
Prevention is also very important. Using eye cream regularly and wearing sunglasses can help keep crow’s feet away. Harsh sunlight can make you squint for hours without noticing it, and that can lead to more lines. Continuous squinting causes the collagen and elastic fibres to break down, allowing wrinkles to form.