Why Are The Bottoms of Feet So Dark?

Question

Hey everyone,

If someone’s foot rarely sees the sun, how come the soles are a darker shade/more “tanned” than the rest of the body? Is it to do with pigment, or simply because they’re pressure points for when you stand? Cheers in advance.

In: Biology

Answer 1

Usually they are not. On Africans they are lighter than the tops. On Asians they are about the same. On Caucasians they may be about the same, or a bit darker.