The
sock tan is similar to a farmer's tan (also sometimes called a
farmer tan), and the result of being
out of doors and
under the sun with... (oh my goodness!)
clothing on. A farmer's tan usually includes a sock tan as part of the package. Outdoor sports
athletes (e.g.,
tennis players) often have a reputation for
particularly egregious sock tans and may be
ridiculed for wearing socks when they are
not wearing any (because their feet are still so
white in comparison to the rest of their legs). Always wearing socks will prevent this kind of
harassment, but it will also
exacerbate the problem. Wearing
ankle socks can ameliorate a sock tan, by lowering one's
tan line level, but it is not a
cure. Sitting partially shaded with the untanned feet sticking out into the sun for long periods of time is another possibility.
always wear sunscreen.