Malignant melanoma is a cancer of the pigment cells of the skin. Most pigmented areas are harmless freckles and moles but pigmented lesions should always be checked out and kept an eye on. Nevertheless a pigmented lesion that can be deadly can occur on the lower part of the body and foot; this is known as a malignant melanoma. Any pigmented lesions that occur out of the blue or begin to change should be checked out by a doctor.

These changes are generally very slight, the pigmentation may be changing in size or colour or there may be a discharge of fluid or blood. The colour is usually a mixture of brown, black or bluish black. The pigmentation may increase over a period of time. Even though any part of the body can be affected, the foot is a generally a common place, then the legs, stomach, head, neck, arms and back. Under the nails of the feet and hands can also be affected by a malignant melanoma. Usually the big toe and thumb are affected rather than the rest of the nails. The skin around the nails generally becomes ulcerated. When examined, usually the nail is diagnosed with a fungal infection and anti-fungal treatment begins, it can be months before the right diagnosis is made. A malignant melanoma of the toe which is black can also be wrongly mistaken for gangrene. On the whole, there is a small chance of a malignant melanoma reoccurring.

Kaposi’s sarcoma is another lesion that can occur on the foot that is cancerous. These lesions generally come out on the bottom of the feet. They are a reddish, bluish back, purplish in colour and an uneven rough shape. They have a tendency to stretch and increase in size or become a round nodular shape. These nodular lesions look firm and rubbery. This is a warning sign. There was an epidemic of kaposi’s sarcoma in San Francisco in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. It was after that the disease was linked with the aids infection. It is rare to have this disease without it coexisting with the aids infection but it can happen.

Increased pigmentation to the soles of the feet can also be caused by suffering from chronic athlete’s foot. It is linked with having a reddish looking colour and dry flaky skin.