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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. A doctor can diagnose a bunion on camera and plan shoes, padding and pain relief; X-rays, insole fittings and surgery are in person.
- What it is: a bony lump on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe, as the big toe drifts towards the other toes (hallux valgus).
- How common: about 23% of adults aged 18 to 65 and 36% of people over 65 have one; women have them more than twice as often as men.
- Can it be reversed? Not without surgery. Wide shoes, pads and insoles ease the pain and may slow a bunion down, but no splint or corrector straightens the toe for good.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for a foot that is hot, red and swollen with a fever, or a foot or toes that are cold, pale or blue.
Do not book a video appointment if your foot is hot, red and swollen and you have a fever or feel very unwell, your foot or toes are cold, pale, blue or grey, or you cannot put any weight on your foot after an injury. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat bunions?
Yes, usually. A bunion is diagnosed from how it looks and feels, which a doctor can see on camera, and most bunions are managed with the right shoes, padding, insoles and pain relief. The doctor checks for the signs that need more, such as an infection, gout or a foot problem linked to diabetes, refers you to a podiatrist for insoles and toe supports, and to a foot surgeon if the pain is limiting your life. X-rays and surgery are in person.
How an online consultation helps with bunions
- Diagnosed on camera: The lump, the angle of the big toe, corns and hard skin show clearly on video in good light.
- Bunion, gout or infection?: A big toe joint that is suddenly hot and swollen needs different treatment from a bunion, and the doctor tells them apart.
- Pain relief and shoes that help: Practical advice on shoes, pads and pain relief that suits your health and other medicines.
- The right referral: A podiatrist for insoles and toe supports, or a foot surgeon when pain limits your walking or daily life.
What the doctor checks in an online bunion consultation
The doctor asks about the warning signs first, then looks at your foot. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: a hot, red, swollen foot or toe with a fever, a foot that is cold, pale or blue, numbness, and broken skin or a wound over the lump.
- How it looks: the lump, the angle of the big toe, redness, hard skin, corns and calluses, and whether the second toe is affected.
- The pain: where it hurts, whether it is worse in shoes and when walking, and how much it limits you.
- How it started: slowly over years, which is typical of a bunion, or suddenly with a hot, swollen joint, which points to gout or an infection.
- Your health: diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, circulation problems, and the medicines you take.
- Your shoes and your day: what you wear most days, and how long you spend on your feet.
Before the call, have your bare feet and the shoes you wear most often within reach, and find good light so that the doctor can see both feet side by side.
What is a bunion?
A bunion is a bony lump on the side of the foot, at the joint at the base of the big toe. It forms as the big toe slowly drifts towards the other toes, a change called hallux valgus, which pushes the joint outwards. Extra bone and a fluid-filled sac can form over the joint, and the lump can become painful. Bunions usually develop slowly.
What does a bunion look like?
- a hard lump on the side of the foot, next to the big toe
- a big toe that points towards the other toes, sometimes crossing over the second toe
- hard or swollen skin over the lump, which may look red or darker than the skin around it
- corns or calluses where the toes rub, and hard skin on the sole of the foot
Bunionette (tailor’s bunion)
A similar lump can form on the outside of the foot, at the base of the little toe. It is called a bunionette or tailor’s bunion, and it can cause a painful, swollen sac over the joint and a corn or callus.
How common are bunions?
Very common. A review of studies from around the world found bunions in about 23% of adults aged 18 to 65 and in about 36% of people over 65. Women have them more than twice as often as men: about 30% of women compared with 13% of men.
What causes bunions?
The exact cause is not always known, and several things play a part:
- Your genes: the shape of your foot is inherited, and up to 70% of people who develop bunions have a family history of them.
- Shoes: narrow, pointed or high-heeled shoes that squeeze the toes make bunions more likely, although experts disagree about how much shoes cause them.
- Arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
- Other foot problems: an injury or stress on the foot, a foot shape you were born with, and some nerve and muscle conditions.
Are bunions hereditary?
They often run in families: up to 70% of people with bunions have a family history of them. What you inherit is the foot shape that makes a bunion more likely, so shoes with room for your toes still matter.
What does bunion pain feel like?
Bunion pain is usually soreness over the lump and along the side or the bottom of the foot, worse in shoes and when walking. The big toe joint can feel stiff and move less, and the skin over the lump can be sore and swollen. For some people the pain is constant; for others it comes and goes.
What problems can a bunion lead to?
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Problem | What it is |
|---|---|
| Bursitis | A swollen, painful fluid-filled sac over the joint |
| Hammer toe | The toe next to the big toe bends at its middle joint, often when the big toe crosses over it |
| Metatarsalgia | Pain and swelling in the ball of the foot |
| Corns and calluses | Hard, thick skin where the toes rub against each other or the shoe |
| Arthritis | Wear in the big toe joint, which an X-ray can show |
Bunion, gout or something else?
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you notice | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A hard, bony lump at the side of the big toe that has grown slowly | Bunion | Wider shoes, pads and pain relief; see a doctor if it is not improving |
| Sudden severe pain in the big toe joint, with hot, swollen, red or darker skin | Gout | See a doctor for treatment of the attack |
| A painful, swollen joint with a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery | Possible joint infection | Get medical advice the same day; call 112 if you feel very unwell |
| Pain or swelling around the nail, with the nail curling into the toe | Ingrown toenail | A pharmacist or a doctor |
| Pain, tingling and numbness in the cold or with stress, with toes changing colour | Raynaud’s or chilblains | See a doctor if it keeps happening |
A big toe joint that suddenly becomes hot, red and swollen is more likely to be gout than a bunion. An untreated attack of gout usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks, and redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin.
How can you ease bunion pain at home?
With the right shoes, padding and simple pain relief. These do not make the bunion go away, but they often make it comfortable:
- Shoes: wear wide shoes with a low heel and a soft sole, with room for your toes; a shoe shop can stretch the front of shoes you already own.
- Bunion pads: felt, foam or silicone pads from a pharmacy protect the lump. Try a pad for a short time first, because a pad of the wrong size can increase the pressure.
- Ice: hold an ice pack, or a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a tea towel to the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time.
- Pain relief: paracetamol or ibuprofen, if they suit you.
- Stretches and insoles: stretching your calf muscles helps, and insoles may help if you have flat feet.
- Weight: try to lose weight if you are overweight.
Avoid high heels and tight, pointed shoes.
Can you shrink a bunion naturally?
No. Shoes, pads, toe spacers and exercises can ease the pain and may slow a bunion down, but none of them reverses it. Surgery is the only way to get rid of a bunion.
Do bunion correctors and splints work?
They may ease the pain, but splints, braces and correctors have not been shown to straighten the toe for good. A podiatrist may suggest toe spacers or a night splint for comfort.
Which bunion treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on how much the bunion hurts, how it limits you and your health. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bunion that hurts in shoes, with no other problems | Wider shoes, pads and pain relief | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Pain not better after a few weeks of this, or a bunion getting worse | A review, and referral to a podiatrist for insoles, toe spacers or splints | Yes | For a podiatry assessment |
| Pain that limits walking or daily life despite all of this | Referral to a foot surgeon to discuss surgery | Yes, to refer | For X-rays, the surgical opinion and the operation |
| A bunion with diabetes, or broken skin over the lump | A check of the skin and feeling in the foot | Partly | A prompt foot check in person, especially with redness or swelling |
| A big toe joint that is suddenly hot, red and swollen | Assessment for gout or an infection | Yes, to assess | Get medical advice the same day if you have a fever; call 112 if you feel very unwell |
| A foot that is hot, red and swollen with a fever, or cold, pale or blue | Emergency assessment | No | Call 112 or go to an emergency department |
Not sure whether the lump on your foot is a bunion? A doctor can tell you in one consultation what will help.
See available times →Treatment options for bunions
What you can do yourself
- Wear wide shoes with a low heel and a soft sole, and keep high heels for short occasions, if at all.
- Protect the lump with a bunion pad of the right size.
- Use an ice pack for up to 5 minutes at a time when the bunion is sore.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if they suit you.
- Stretch your calf muscles, and keep to a healthy weight.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. Most bunion pain needs no prescription. If you can take one, the doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory such as naproxen for a short time when the joint is painful and swollen, after checking your stomach, kidneys, heart and other medicines, or may treat a skin infection over the bunion if there is one. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
Podiatry
A podiatrist (foot specialist) can advise on shoes and fit insoles (orthotics), toe spacers and toe supports (splints). These ease pressure and pain, and may slow the bunion down.
Bunion surgery
Surgery is considered when a bunion is very painful or has a big effect on your life despite other treatment. It is not done to improve how your feet look. There are more than 100 different procedures; the most common is an osteotomy:
- a small cut, or cuts, in the skin over the big toe
- the lump is cut or shaved away
- the toe bone is straightened
- the bone is fixed in place with metal screws or staples, which are often left in for good
It is usually done under general anaesthetic, sometimes under local anaesthetic, and most people go home on the day of the operation. Minimally invasive surgery uses smaller cuts and may cause less swelling and a faster recovery early on, but the long-term results are similar, and it does not suit every bunion.
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| After surgery | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Resting with your feet raised as much as possible | At least 2 weeks |
| Time off work | 2 to 12 weeks, depending on your job |
| Driving | Not for 6 to 8 weeks |
| Sport | Not for 3 to 6 months |
Why is bunion surgery not always recommended?
Because recovery is long and the result is not perfect for everyone. Afterwards, the toe can be weaker or stiffer than before, may not be completely straight, and the foot may still hurt. Bunions sometimes come back, and some people can no longer wear narrow or fashionable shoes. Surgery helps most when pain, not appearance, is the problem.
What does not help
High heels and narrow, pointed shoes. Correctors or splints worn in the hope of straightening the toe for good. A pad that is too big, which can add pressure. Surgery for appearance alone.
Special situations
Diabetes
Foot problems can be more serious with diabetes. See a doctor about a bunion if you have diabetes, and promptly for any redness, swelling, broken skin or loss of feeling over it.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis makes bunions more likely. If several joints are swollen and stiff, the rheumatoid arthritis page explains what to do.
Walking holidays
Choose walking shoes with a low heel and room for your toes, and pack bunion pads. Other holiday health problems are covered on the travel illnesses page.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When bunions are treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: diagnosing a bunion on camera, advice on shoes, pads and pain relief, telling a bunion from gout or an infection, and referral to a podiatrist or a foot surgeon.
In-person care: X-rays, fitting insoles and splints, surgery and its follow-up, a foot check if you have diabetes and broken skin, and any warning sign.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a foot that is hot, red and swollen, with a fever or feeling very unwell
- a foot or toes that are cold, pale, blue or grey
- not being able to put any weight on your foot after an injury, or a toe pointing at an odd angle
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a big toe joint that is suddenly hot, swollen and very painful
- toe pain with feeling hot, cold or shivery
- redness, swelling or broken skin over a bunion if you have diabetes
- tingling or loss of feeling in your foot
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your foot: show both feet on camera in good light, with the shoes you wear most, and say what makes the pain worse.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s a bunion? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Gout can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about bunions
What is a bunion?
A bunion is a bony lump on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. It forms as the big toe slowly drifts towards the other toes, a change called hallux valgus, which pushes the joint outwards.
What causes bunions?
Mostly an inherited foot shape: up to 70% of people with bunions have a family history of them. Narrow, pointed or high-heeled shoes, rheumatoid arthritis and some other foot and nerve conditions make them more likely.
Are bunions hereditary?
They often run in families. You inherit the foot shape that makes a bunion more likely, so shoes with room for your toes still matter.
What does bunion pain feel like?
Bunion pain is soreness over the lump and along the side or bottom of the foot, worse in shoes and when walking, often with a stiff big toe and sore, swollen skin over the joint.
Is it a bunion or gout?
A bunion is a slow-growing bony lump at the base of the big toe that aches in tight shoes. Gout attacks the same joint, but suddenly: within hours the joint becomes hot, red, swollen and so painful that even a bedsheet hurts, and it settles within a week or two. A bunion can also become red and sore when the skin over it is inflamed, so a hot, swollen joint with a high temperature needs a doctor to rule out gout or infection.
How can I treat bunions at home?
Wear wide shoes with a low heel and a soft sole, use bunion pads, hold a wrapped ice pack on the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time, take paracetamol or ibuprofen if they suit you, and avoid high heels and pointed shoes.
Can you shrink bunions naturally?
No. Shoes, pads, toe spacers and exercises can ease the pain and may slow a bunion down, but they do not reverse it. Surgery is the only way to get rid of a bunion.
Do bunion correctors work?
Bunion correctors, splints and braces may ease pain and feel supportive, but they have not been shown to straighten the big toe for good, because the bone has already shifted. Toe spacers and pads can make shoes more comfortable, and only surgery realigns the joint.
What is the average age to get bunions?
Bunions can start at any age, even in teenagers, but they become more common with age: about 23% of adults aged 18 to 65 have one, rising to about 36% of people over 65.
How can I prevent bunions getting worse?
You cannot change the foot shape you inherited, but you can slow a bunion and keep it comfortable: wear shoes with a wide, deep toe box and a low heel, and avoid pointed or high-heeled shoes; use a bunion pad to stop rubbing and an insole if your arches are flat; keep to a healthy weight; and exercise the foot with simple toe stretches. See a podiatrist early if the toe is drifting or the joint is stiffening.
What should I not eat if I have bunions?
No food is known to cause or shrink bunions. Keeping to a healthy weight helps your feet. A big toe joint that suddenly becomes hot, red and swollen may be gout instead, which is treated differently.
When is bunion surgery needed?
When a bunion is very painful or has a big effect on your life despite shoes, pads and insoles. It is not done for appearance, and the toe can be stiffer afterwards, so surgery helps most when pain is the problem.
How long does it take to recover from bunion surgery?
After bunion surgery, usually at least 2 weeks with your feet raised, 2 to 12 weeks off work, no driving for 6 to 8 weeks, and no sport for 3 to 6 months.
Can an online doctor help with bunions?
Yes, usually. A doctor can diagnose a bunion on camera, advise on shoes, pads and pain relief, tell it apart from gout or an infection, and refer you to a podiatrist or a foot surgeon.
- Bunions, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 June 2023.
- Toe pain, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 20 November 2025.
- Bunions, OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, accessed 15 October 2026.
- Bunions, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, reviewed 27 June 2026.
- Bunions: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic (US), 8 May 2025.
- Prevalence of hallux valgus in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Nix S, Smith M, Vicenzino B. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 2010.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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