What are skin tears?
The solution
We use impact resistant yarns purpose spun from the hard Aramid, Kevlar® by DuPont, together with elasticated nylon and a specialist weaving method. The purpose spun yarn creates a mesh of loops on the inside of the socks or sleeves. The products have a flat, slightly ribbed surface on the outside. The looping cushions impact and the purpose spun yarn gives further cut, tear, shear and abrasion resistance. The combination of the materials and construction also provides additional impact resistance in a similar manner to body armour. The elasticated nylon creates considerable stretchiness so that the socks will fit a wide range of leg diameters within each size, without applying excess pressure. Thus, the soft top band is not restrictive.
Other features
- Three sizes of socks and sleeves are available: Small, Medium and Large.
- The feet of the socks are made from cotton as protection is not required for the feet.
- The socks do not contain any ‘compression’ as required by patients with Oedema, Lymphoedema or Vascular problems. If patients with any of these conditions do need compression then it is possible to wear thin compression liners underneath our thin skin protection socks.
- The slight pressure applied by the socks in order to fit the legs properly does not cause any medical problems for people with circulation deficiency.


The first product trial
The second product trial
The table below shows the combined results for both product trials and indicates the very high level of reduction of skin tears and bruises.
Other key information: The number of skin tears was measured by skin tears per person. The number of bruises was measured by bruises per person.
Days | Hours | No. of people | Skin tears | Bruises |
---|---|---|---|---|
747 | 7,822 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
Actual skin tear rate | Actual bruises rate | |||
0.05 | 0 | |||
Potential skin tear rate | Potential bruises rate | |||
1.70 | 3.60 | |||
% reduction of skin tears | % reduction of bruises | |||
97.05% | Eliminated |
Additional information
- Registration of the Socks and Sleeves as a Class I Medical Device has been obtained. The products are CE marked.
- The products do not cause any irritation or allergic reactions.
- Dermatuff products are warm in winter and cool in summer.
- The products may be washed by normal means at normal temperatures.
- We recommend buying at least two pairs so you have one pair on whilst the other is in the wash.
- A report on the use of the socks in a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in England called STOPCUTs can be downloaded here.