Valerie Cacho, MD, is a board-certified sleep medicine specialist and the founder of the online educational company Sleephoria.

Compression socks are designed to provide gradual pressure to your legs, which encourages blood flow and reduces swelling. They also help prevent blood clots and support tired or weak leg muscles.

If you have fluid in your legs, are pregnant, have certain medical conditions, or are an athlete recovering from extensive workouts, you may find wearing compression socks during the day useful. However, most healthcare providers advise against wearing them at night, aside from certain medical situations.

If you have fluid build up in your legs or ankles, or you are recovering from a medical procedure, a healthcare provider may recommend daytime use of compression socks.

However, they may advise against sleeping in them. While sleeping, your legs are already in a position that encourages blood flow, and there is little evidence that nighttime use is beneficial. Taking compression socks off at night allows your skin to breathe and may prevent skin breakdown.

However, there are times when your healthcare provider may recommend sleeping in compression socks, especially if you are recovering from an invasive surgery. Researchers have found that nighttime use of compression stockings is sometimes recommended for people who have:

If you are considering wearing compression socks, talk to your doctor first, especially if you plan to sleep in them. It can be unsafe to wear compression socks 24 hours a day, and they are not safe to use for everyone.

For instance, people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may not be able to safely wear compression socks. PAD causes a narrowing of the arteries that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. In this case, compressing the legs may be dangerous.

Also, people in wheelchairs or those with limited feeling in their legs need to be careful with compression socks. They may find it difficult to tell when a sore is developing or be unable to gauge the strength of compression or when something is too tight. The same risks apply for people with limited cognitive function. When wearing compression socks, you need to be able to communicate how they feel and if they are uncomfortable.

Other risks of sleeping in compression socks include:

If your healthcare provider recommends wearing compression socks, follow their instructions closely. They will let you know the pressure you need and how long to wear them. The pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and comes in low pressure, medium pressure, and high pressure, so it is important to choose the right one.

Here are some other things to consider when wearing compression socks, particularly if you have been advised to sleep in them:

If you find that wearing compression socks, especially at night, is uncomfortable or just not conducive to your lifestyle, there are alternatives you can try. Talk to your healthcare provider before experimenting with other options. They can let you know which alternatives are right for you and your condition. Here are some potential alternatives to compression socks to consider:

Sleeping in compression socks is usually not recommended unless you have venous ulcers or have had an invasive procedure. Your healthcare provider will let you know what is best for your condition.

In many instances, there is no need to sleep in them because your legs are already in a position to promote blood flow. Plus, there is little research to support their use at night.

If you do sleep in compression socks, keep them clean and dry and pay attention to your skin. If you develop sores or if the socks are too tight, call your healthcare provider right away. These issues need to be addressed promptly to avoid any further skin breakdown or medical issues.