A bunion is caused by painful inflammation that occurs at the joint of your big toe. The condition, which can disfigure your foot, can make it difficult for you to feel comfortable displaying your feet in public. Still, bunions can be avoided. Here are a few things that you can do to lessen the chances of severely inflaming one of your big toe joints:

Shop for shoes in the evening.

Even if you have a day off from work, shopping for shoes should be reserved until the evening or late afternoon. When you wake in the morning, your feet are at their smallest state. However, as the day progresses, your feet swell from their continual usage. Trying shoes on when your feet have not swelled for the day can leave you with new shoes that will fit uncomfortably when worn throughout a normal day. Therefore, it is best to try on footwear when your feet are in their largest state.

If you try on a new pair of shoes and they fit comfortably in the evening, they are likely to remain comfortable after the purchase. However, if your feet were fitted in the morning, your new shoes may have to stretch a bit to accommodate the increased size of your feet later in the day.

Beware of high heels.

When you stand in a pair of high heels, the bulk of your weight is placed on the front half of your feet, which is where your big toe joint is located. Due to the pressure, the front of your feet tends to spread, pressing against the sides of your shoes. This pressure may cause your large toe joint to become inflamed, especially if there is little cushioning on the sides of the shoes.

Although high heels can be beautiful and fashionable, so can shoes with lower heels. Look for shoes that suit your taste but do not contain heels that are so high that they make your feet uncomfortable. Heels should generally be no more than a couple of inches in height.

Go barefoot at home.

When you get home for the day, take off your shoes. Allowing your feet to rest can give your big toe joint a chance to recover from the pressure of shoes. Additionally, walking without shoes can strengthen the muscles and tendons of your feet, making inflammation less likely.

To learn more ways to protect your feet from bunions, schedule an appointment at Foot & Ankle Care Center PA or a similar location.