Skin & Aesthetics · Harley Street
Crow's Feet
The fine lines that fan out from the outer corners of the eyes when you smile, and eventually stay when you do not.
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Crow's feet, sometimes called laughter lines, are among the first lines most people notice. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the face, it has fewer oil glands, and the muscle encircling the eye contracts every time you smile, squint or laugh. That combination makes the area age faster than the rest of the face.
Early on the lines appear only on movement. Over time, as collagen and elastin decline, they begin to remain visible at rest, which is usually the point at which people seek treatment.
What causes crow's feet?
The main driver is repeated contraction of the muscle around the eye. Squinting in bright light, screen use and smoking all increase how often that happens. Sun exposure accelerates the loss of collagen in already-thin skin, and dehydration makes existing lines more obvious.
They are not a sign of poor skincare. Expressive faces develop them earlier, which is simply a consequence of using those muscles.
How are crow's feet treated?
Where the lines are dynamic, appearing on movement, treatment focuses on reducing the muscle activity that creates them. Where they have become static and are visible at rest, the skin itself needs addressing: skin boosters and polynucleotides improve hydration and quality in the area, and skin rejuvenation can help texture.
The eye area is unforgiving and needs a conservative approach. Over-treating here flattens natural expression and can look worse than the lines did.
What results are realistic?
Softening, and a rested rather than smoothed appearance. Lines that only show on movement respond best. Deep static lines that have been present for years usually improve rather than disappear, and may need a combined approach over several months.
Find your treatment
Which skin treatment is right for you?
Tell us your main concern for a starting point, then confirm the right plan at a free consultation.
What is your main concern?
Frequently asked questions
What causes crow's feet?
Repeated contraction of the muscle around the eye, combined with thin skin, sun exposure and the natural loss of collagen. Squinting, screen use and smoking increase how often the muscle contracts, so lines appear earlier.
Can you prevent crow's feet?
You can delay them. Daily SPF, sunglasses in bright light, not smoking and keeping the area hydrated all help. You cannot prevent them entirely, because the underlying cause is normal facial movement.
Do crow's feet mean I need treatment?
No. They are a normal part of an expressive face, and plenty of people are perfectly happy with them. Treatment is worth considering only if they bother you, and we will say so if we think the honest answer is to leave them alone.
What is the best treatment for crow's feet?
It depends on whether the lines are dynamic or static. Dynamic lines respond to reducing muscle activity; static lines need the skin quality addressed. Most people benefit from a combination, agreed after looking at your face in movement and at rest.
Speak to our team
Every treatment begins with a free, no-obligation consultation at 19 Harley Street. We assess you in person and give honest advice on what suits you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Sumeyye Yuksel, MBBS · 5 September 2026