Overview
Fine, dark wrinkles around the eyes, popularly known as “crow’s feet,” are usually the first wrinkles that will appear on a person’s face, according to dermatologist Debra Price, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. These wrinkles are usually caused by excessive sun exposure, squinting and/or smoking, which leads to decreased production of the substance that keeps skin flexible called elastin. It also causes skin cell damage from free radicals. HealthGuidance.org notes that no single cosmetic cream can deal with all of the causes of dark wrinkles around the eyes, and that the first line of defense should be treating the wrinkles from within.
Step 1
Stay hydrated. Your skin cannot stay supple without adequate amounts of water. SimplyAntiAging.com notes that most cells, including skin cells, are made up mostly of water. Drink most of your water—at least eight 8-ounce servings—during the daytime, as drinking water as late as two hours before bedtime can lead to puffy eyes in the morning.
Step 2
Use topical creams and lotions. The Mayo Clinic recommends over-the-counter (OTC) products with active ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids, kinetin, CoQ10, Retinol, copper peptides and antioxidants. Some OTC preparations, however, contain very small amounts of these active ingredients, and therefore may not prove to be as effective as prescription-strength formulations such as Renova, Retin-A, Avage or Tazorac. Speak to your doctor about getting a prescription for one of these products.
Step 3
Camouflage wrinkles. While not a permanent solution, the New York Times Health Guides suggests using cosmetics to reduce the appearance of dark wrinkles. Apply powdered eye shadows as opposed to cream-based shadows on top of a thin layer of moisturizer around the eyes.
