# socks killing hair **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869 "2010-01-21T18:13:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/1 "2010-01-21T18:13:33Z")
Where my socks are, there is no hair! This is a new thing but noticable. Does wearing socks kill off leg hair? if so, I am getting longer socks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/2 "2010-01-21T18:23:25Z")
Underwear doesn’t seem to do this, by contrast. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/3 "2010-01-21T18:28:27Z")
Socks can wear against the area and lead to hair loss, but poor circulation from a number of conditions (some serious, some not) is also a problem. Tight socks can work in conjunction with other issues. Since there is a potential underlying medical condition, the standard warning is required: We can’t diagnose anything here. Please see a doctor. It might be nothing; it might be something. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/4 "2010-01-21T19:15:26Z")
That’s pretty normal. I have no hair in the front and back of my ankles. I have hair on the right and left side of my ankles though. I don’t think it’s a sock that causes it, 'cause if it was I’d have no hair period ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/5 "2010-01-21T19:20:36Z")
It’s possible that aging plays a factor. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/6 "2010-01-21T19:49:46Z")
Aging = reduced circulation… but aging is associated with risk of having other conditions that can contribute. Kind of like, “I have a headache”. Could be stress, high blood pressure, your eyes straining or a large, malignant tumor. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/7 "2010-01-21T20:23:11Z")
Well, thanks, but i am not even asking my dr. I am fine. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/8 "2010-01-21T20:25:45Z")
Famous last words! 😃 Are you trying to say, “It’s not a tumah?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/9 "2010-01-21T20:31:37Z")
Must be hair loss from socks season. Recent thread: [Do men lose hair on lower legs as they age due to use of socks or natural aging?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=546690) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/10 "2010-01-21T20:37:33Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Famous last words! > > 😃 > > Are you trying to say, “It’s not a tumah?” > > 😉 No it’s “I do NAT have a TUMAH!” ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/11 "2010-01-21T20:55:49Z")
You butchered that line! It’s NOT a TUMAH! clip: > **[Free and Freely Downloadable Sound Clips and Sound Bites from the hit movie :...](http://www.rosswalker.co.uk/movie_sounds/kindergarten_cop.htm)** > > Freely Downloadable soundbites, soundclips, sound clips and sound bites from the motion picture : Kindergarten Cop (Arnold Schwarzenegger) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-killing-hair/525869/12 "2010-01-22T02:05:19Z")
As I mentioned in the other recent thread: I had the same loss of hair in the same area . . . but then continued to lose it gradually higher and higher, above the sock line. Then I was diagnosed as being diabetic. My endocrinologist looked at the hair pattern on my legs, and ascertained that I had been diabetic for the past 7 years. He said it was caused by poor circulation, a side effect of diabetes. Now, 13 years later, I have no leg hair below the knees and not much on the thighs. And my body hair in general is thinner . . . except of course in my nose and ears.