10 Remedies for Smile Lines

Smile lines are said to signify the many happy moments you’ve enjoyed in life, but not everyone is overjoyed by the presence of the tiny crinkles around the corners of their eyes. Also known as character lines or crow’s feet, these wrinkles find their root cause below the skin’s surface where collagen, elastin, and fat diminish over time, leaving you with thinner skin that doesn’t easily return to a smooth state after being pulled into an expression. As you repeatedly smile and squint over the years, those tiny, web-like lines may become deeply etched and visible all the time. In addition to BOTOX^®, which Hammonton and South Jersey residents may find to be the best solution for these lines, there are other options for softening their appearance—and even preventing them from occurring. The South Jersey Skin Care & Laser center team often consults patients on these types of wrinkles, as well as bags and dark circles, and knows that a desire for a fix extends well beyond New Jersey. Here are 10 things anyone who wants smoother skin around their eyes should consider:

1. Neuromodulators

BOTOX^® injections are an effective way of minimizing the appearance of prominent crow’s feet to make the entire eye area look more youthful. Technically known as “lateral canthal lines,” crow’s feet are specifically approved by the FDA as a condition BOTOX^® can treat. Once injected into the skin, the neuromodulator temporarily prevents these wrinkles from appearing by preventing nerve signals from reaching the muscles that cause them.

2. Sun Protection

Your habits, lifestyle, and environmental forces can all contribute to skin aging. Dermatologists warn that excessive UV radiation from sunlight or indoor tanning is one of the primary reasons why some people’s skin ages faster than others (and dramatically increases skin cancer risk, too). Using broad-spectrum sunscreen is the tried and true method of protecting your skin, including the eye area.

3. Moisturize

The skin around the eyes is particularly thin and delicate, which is why this is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. Wrinkles tend to show up more clearly on dehydrated skin. It might seem simple, but maintaining skin hydration with moisturizers and drinking plenty of water is essential to keeping not just smile lines, but any facial wrinkles at bay.

Drinking eight glasses of water each day improves blood circulation. Apply face mists and eye creams with peptides, vitamins, and minerals, in addition to products containing hyaluronic acid to restore moisture to the rest of the face.

4. Care for Your Eyes

To avoid tiny expression wrinkles around the eyes, limit muscle movements in the area during everyday activities such as going outside in bright sunlight, drinking from straws, reading, or looking at screens. Wear sunglasses, reading glasses, or contacts if necessary to reduce your need to squint. Frowning and rubbing the eyes frequently can also contribute to wrinkling.

5. Consider Your Diet

Maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding an excess of sugar and salt helps keep your skin healthy from the inside out. Choose antioxidant-rich foods, meals containing vitamins A and C, and hydrating fruits and vegetables. Avoid processed meats, white sugar, and white bread, and limit alcohol.

6. Don’t Smoke

Smoking is harmful not just to your overall health, but also to the appearance of your skin. The chemicals contained in tobacco smoke from cigarettes or exposure to secondhand smoke not only damage collagen and elastin, but also block oxygen and nutrients from getting to where they need to go.

7. Laser Resurfacing

For more pronounced lines and crepey skin, laser skin resurfacing is a treatment to consider. Some types of lasers improve fine lines, along with other tone and texture irregularities, by heating tissue to trigger collagen production.

8. Exfoliate

The eyes can be neglected when exfoliating, as the skin in the area is particularly sensitive. Try a mild exfoliating eye cream containing retinol each evening.

9. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a professional, in-office treatment to soften wrinkles by removing damaged skin on the surface and encouraging collagen production. Considering the sensitivity of the eye area, these should not be tried at home.

10. Microdermabrasion

Another method of exfoliation, microdermabrasion uses a specialized device to scrub away dead skin and soften superficial wrinkles.

For more details about BOTOX^® and other options for treating visible smile lines in the Hammonton and South Jersey area, talk to the team at South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center. Call (856) 810-9888 or write them a message.