Collection: Second Skin Compression Socks & Stockings

Second Skin is organised into lines by fabric and purpose rather than under a single style name. Each line runs across several compression levels and lengths, so the choice is usually about fabric, appearance and where the swelling sits.

• Surgical Grade — the medical core. A concealing smooth knit at 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg in knee high, thigh high and pantyhose, with soft or silicone dot stay-up tops, open and closed toe, extended sizes and short lengths.
• Sheer — fine-knit stockings from 8-15 to 30-40 mmHg in knee high, thigh high, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose. Wears like everyday hosiery in neutral and fashion shades, with silicone lace stay-up tops on thigh highs.
• Opaque — microfiber-soft stockings at 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg in knee high, thigh high, pantyhose and footless leggings. A denser knit that conceals surface veins and discolouration, with knit-in heel and toe.
• MicroFiber — four-way stretch air-covered knee highs at 20-30 mmHg, including aloe-infused options, easier to apply than a standard medical knit.
• Trouser Socks — rib, cable and diamond patterned knee highs at 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg in soft microfiber nylon with an extra-wide comfort band, for business and business-casual dress.
• Men's Dress — rib-knit knee high socks from 8-15 to 30-40 mmHg plus a 20-30 mmHg thigh high, styled to pass for an ordinary business sock.
• Men's Casual & Athletic — cushioned-foot crew and knee high socks at 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg with moisture-wicking, anti-microbial yarns for court sports, golf, walking and leisure.
• Soft Diabetic — non-binding mini-crew, crew and knee high socks with seamless linked toes, in 8-15 mmHg and non-compression options for sensitive or neuropathic feet.
• Anti-Embolism — 18 mmHg knee high and thigh length stockings in open and closed toe, for reclining or bed-confined patients and post-surgical home recovery.
• Upper Extremity — ready-to-wear arm sleeves and gauntlets at 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg for lymphoedema and swelling after surgery, trauma or radiation therapy.
• Specialty Medical — zippered open-toe knee highs at 15-20 mmHg for wearers who cannot pull a stocking over the foot and ankle.
• Travel — 15-20 mmHg unisex knee highs in a discreet rib knit, developed for long periods in cramped seating.
• Casual — 10-20 mmHg women's cushioned knee highs for everyday wear and long hours on your feet.
• Accessories — garter belts, a stocking applicator and donning gloves that make daily application manageable.

Compare lines side by side in our comparison guides, or browse the Surgical Grade line, women's sheer range, athletic & diabetic socks and men's support socks. Every line is competitively priced against comparable medical compression.

Compression is measured in millimetres of mercury at the ankle, decreasing up the limb. Choosing the level is about matching pressure to symptoms, not buying the firmest you can tolerate.

• 8-15 mmHg (Mild) — leg fatigue, slight ankle and foot swelling, flights, long drives, desk work and general prevention. No prescription needed and the easiest level to wear from day one.
• 15-20 mmHg (Moderate) — minor varicose veins, varicosities arising in pregnancy, tired aching legs, minor swelling and standing occupations. No prescription needed, and the most common starting point once symptoms appear.
• 18 mmHg (Anti-Embolism) — a separate category for reclining or bed-confined patients and post-surgical home convalescence, not for ambulatory daily wear.
• 20-30 mmHg (Firm) — moderate varicose veins and edema, moderate varicosities in pregnancy, recovery after sclerotherapy and other vein surgery, superficial thrombophlebitis, and preventing recurrence of venous ulceration. The most widely prescribed medical level.
• 30-40 mmHg (Extra Firm) — severe varicosities, severe or lymphatic edema, chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcer prevention and management, post-thrombotic syndrome and orthostatic hypotension. Generally worn on the recommendation of a physician or certified fitter.

Our mmHg guide explains each level with the conditions it is indicated for. Compression is not appropriate for everyone — read when not to wear compression socks if you have arterial disease, uncontrolled heart failure, a skin infection or untreated leg ulcers, and see when to wear compression for guidance on daily timing. Second Skin gives you these levels at an affordable price, so wearing the right one consistently is realistic.

Length determines how much of the limb is treated, and toe style determines coverage of the foot. Both matter more than most people expect.

• Knee high — the most-worn length, treating swelling and varicosities below the knee. The easiest to wear under any clothing and where most people start.
• Thigh high — for swelling extending above the knee, held by a soft top, a silicone dot band or a silicone lace band depending on the line.
• Pantyhose and leggings — continuous ankle-to-waist pressure with flat panty seams and a ventilated cotton panel, with no thigh band to work loose. A maternity panel version is available, and leggings leave the foot free.
• Crew and mini-crew — non-binding diabetic and everyday sock lengths with seamless linked toes.
• Arm sleeves and gauntlets — upper-limb compression for lymphoedema and post-treatment swelling, sized from three simple measurements.
• Closed toe — covers the whole foot for warmth and even pressure, and looks like ordinary hosiery under shoes.
• Open toe — suits warm weather, wider or arthritic feet, and anyone who needs to inspect the foot daily, as is common in diabetic and post-surgical care. It also makes a slip sock or donning aid easier to use at firmer levels.

Our comparison guides set out knee high against thigh high, open toe against closed toe, and socks against calf sleeves side by side. Browse knee highs, thigh highs, pantyhose, open toe and closed toe.

Measure rather than guess. Compression sizing is not standardised between brands — a Medium in one brand is often not a Medium in another — so go by your measurements rather than the size you wore last.

• Ankle — at its narrowest point, just above the ankle bone.
• Calf — at its widest point.
• Thigh and leg length — add these for thigh highs.
• Height and weight — pantyhose are sized this way rather than by leg or dress size.
• Shoe size — a few casual and athletic socks quick-fit this way; the product page will say so.

Measure first thing in the morning, before swelling builds, against bare skin, with the tape snug but not constricting. Re-measure if your swelling has changed, you have gained or lost weight, or you are recovering from surgery, rather than reordering a previous size.

Special sizing. Second Skin knee highs reach well beyond the usual extended range for wider calves, short lengths are made for a heel-to-knee measurement of 15 inches or less, and pantyhose run Petite through Queen Plus. Plus sizes are graded on calf circumference rather than clothing size, so a wider calf does not automatically mean a larger overall size. If a standard size has never fitted your calf, or pantyhose have always been the wrong leg length, the extended and figure-type ranges are worth checking before assuming compression will not work for you.

Our measuring guide walks through each measurement step by step, the size charts and calculator let you check your numbers against any style, and our guide to how to put on compression stockings shows how to apply the garment without overstretching it.

Care is what determines how long a compression garment keeps working. Elasticity eases gradually over months of daily wear and washing rather than failing suddenly, and how quickly depends on how often it is worn, how it is washed and dried, and the fabric.

• Wash after every wear in cool or lukewarm water with a gentle compression wash solution.
• Never use fabric softener — it coats the elastic fibres and reduces the compression.
• Never use bleach — it breaks the elastic fibres down.
• Air dry away from heat and never machine dry, which permanently damages the elastic.
• Rotate more than one pair so a clean, dry pair is always ready — practical at a wallet-friendly price.
• Apply gently — turn the garment inside out to the heel and roll it up the limb in stages rather than pulling from the top.

Sheer knits need the most care; opaque microfiber is more hard-wearing; the medical smooth knit is the most robust and can be worn over dressings. See our washing and care guide, our guide to how to put on compression stockings and our fabric and weave guide. Shop care products and donning aids.

Graduated compression is used in the management of varicose veins, leg swelling and edema, chronic venous insufficiency, lymphedema, DVT, POTS, diabetes-related foot care & pregnancy, as well as everyday leg fatigue from long shifts on your feet, sport and recovery and long-haul travel.

For more background, visit our Learning Center and FAQ hub.