Bunions are usually very obvious with hard lumps forming on the sides of feet by the big toe. The big toes may also point towards the other toes and hard, red or swollen skin can appear over the lump. Bunions can’t always be prevented and many cases are down to genetics. Before revealing her advice for dealing with bunions, Dr Dawn Harper put the record straight that wearing high heels doesn’t cause bunions.
She explained: “High heels don’t cause bunions, but they are a risk factor for women. Most people who get bunions are women.
“It’s usually down to genetics, but high heels or ill fitting shoes can exacerbate the problem.
“Wearing good-fitting, comfortable shoes is key.”
Heels should be avoided, whereas flat shoes are a better choice.
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But even better, says Dr Dawn, is to invest in shoes specially designed to make bunions feel more comfortable.
As an ambassador for Sole Bliss, Dr Dawn recommends shoes from the brand that use patent-pending Juanet Technology, and also a slightly wider fit.
She said: “I’m honoured to be involved with Sole Bliss for a second year. As a sufferer of bunions, I am so pleased to work with a brand whose shoes are not only gorgeous but also provide women the guarantee of comfort.
“As a GP, I often have people in my clinic who are embarrassed and unsure about how they can manage the condition.
“This is exactly why I believe National Bunion Day is crucial – so we can inform the public that millions of people have them, they are not something to be ashamed of, and there are solutions.”
This year, National Bunion Day falls on Thursday 25th April.
Other common foot problems many people experience alongside bunions are dry skin and cracked heels and plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is where you have pain on the bottom of your foot, around your heel and arch, explains the NHS.
For this, Dr Dawn recommends getting some decent padding in your shoes and to rest the foot using ice in a hot water bottle and rolling it back and forth.
When it comes to dry or cracked skin, she reiterated the importance of buying good fitting shoes and moisturising and using a pumice stone to sand away hard skin on a regular basis.
She said: “Don’t wait to have problems, your feet are part of your independence.
“It’s definitely worth investing in some good shoes and taking the appropriate steps to take care of your feet.”
Flexitol Heel Balm & Podiatrist, Emma Supple also has four tips to get rid of dry skin.