Bunionette

Bunionette Buying Guide

A bunionette, also known as a tailor’s bunion, is a bony protrusion that develops around the joint at the base of the little toe. It is similar to a bunion but occurs on the opposite side of the foot and involves the fifth metatarsal rather than the big-toe joint.

The prominence can make the forefoot wider and more difficult to accommodate inside shoes. Repeated pressure from narrow or restrictive footwear may cause the area to become red, swollen or painful, and thickened skin, calluses or blistering can develop over the bump. The little toe may also move towards the neighbouring fourth toe.

Products for bunionettes mainly work by reducing pressure, cushioning the prominent joint or creating more space between the smaller toes. They can improve comfort while being worn, but they do not permanently remove the underlying bony prominence. Conservative management commonly also involves wider footwear and reducing irritation around the affected joint.

Which Bunionette Product Is Right for Me?

The most suitable option depends on whether your main problem is rubbing against footwear, pressure between the toes, little-toe crowding or sensitive skin over the bunionette.

Bunionette Separators

Toe separators create a small amount of space between the little toe and neighbouring toe. This can reduce direct rubbing and may help hold a flexible little toe in a more comfortable position while the product is being worn.

Our range includes several different separator designs, including:

Dedicated bunionette separators, which loop around the little toe and combine separation with an extended gel section over the prominent joint.

• Individual separators designed to create space between one pair of toes.
• Slimline separators which provide a lower-profile option for footwear with less internal room.
• Sleeved separators where a loop or sleeve helps keep the gel spacer securely positioned.
• Multi-toe designs which spread several crowded toes simultaneously.
• Combined bunion and bunionette separators which provide support around both sides of the forefoot.

May suit:

• A little toe that presses against the fourth toe
• Bunionettes accompanied by toe crowding
• Friction between neighbouring toes
• People wanting separation as well as cushioning

A separator should create gentle spacing rather than force the little toe aggressively outwards.

Bunionette Protectors

Protectors focus primarily on cushioning the prominent joint from footwear pressure rather than separating the toes.

Soft gel designs sit around the little toe and cover the outside of the fifth metatarsal joint, creating a flexible barrier between the bunionette and the shoe.

May suit:

• A bunionette that rubs against shoes
• Red or sensitive skin over the joint
• Pressure during walking or standing
• People who do not need significant toe separation

Bunion Pads and Cushioning

Bunion pads provide targeted protection over or around an irritated prominence.

Foam, felt and moleskin products can be positioned where footwear repeatedly contacts the outside of the foot. Some have an adhesive backing to keep them securely in place, while others can be cut or shaped around the affected area.

May suit:

• Localised shoe pressure
• Corns or callused areas around the bunionette
• Occasional cushioning inside particular footwear
• People who prefer a thin, discreet layer

Adhesive products should be applied according to their instructions and should not be placed over broken or infected skin.

Toe Wraps

Toe wraps provide lightweight positional support without placing a substantial block of gel between the toes.

They can gently hold neighbouring toes together or guide a flexible little toe towards a more comfortable position. Because the material is relatively thin, wraps may be easier to accommodate when shoe space is limited.

May suit:

• Flexible little-toe misalignment
• Mild overlapping or crowding
• Footwear with limited space
• People who prefer fabric support to gel spacers

What to Consider Before Choosing

A bunionette can cause several different symptoms, so choose the product according to the problem you actually want to manage.

Is Pressure From Footwear the Main Problem?

If the bunionette is most uncomfortable when the outside of the foot rubs against the shoe, prioritise padding or a bunionette protector. Wide, deep footwear with softer upper materials can also reduce direct pressure over the prominence.

Is the Little Toe Crowded?

If the little toe moves towards or presses against the fourth toe, a separator, spacer or wrap may be more relevant.

Choose a design that creates enough separation to reduce contact without making the forefoot feel cramped once your shoes are on.

How Much Space Is Inside Your Shoes?

Larger gel products can be comfortable around the home but may take up too much room inside narrow footwear.

Slimline individual separators, wraps and thin adhesive pads generally occupy less space. Whichever product you choose, the toes should not become more compressed after it has been fitted.

Do You Want Reusable or Disposable Protection?

Gel and silicone protectors are generally designed to be washed and reused. Adhesive felt, foam and moleskin products are often better suited to shorter-term or shoe-specific use.

Your choice may depend on whether you want a product for regular daily wear or occasional protection in particular shoes.

Benefits of Bunionette Products

Different designs address slightly different problems, but most products in this collection focus on three main benefits.

Reduce Footwear Pressure

Padding placed over or around the little-toe joint provides an extra layer between the bunionette and the shoe. Reducing this repeated pressure may help make walking and everyday footwear more comfortable.

Wider footwear remains important because tight shoes can continue irritating the joint even when padding is used.

Limit Friction Around the Little Toe

Gel sleeves, separators and pads can reduce direct rubbing between the bunionette, neighbouring toes and shoe materials. This can be particularly useful where repeated friction contributes to redness, soreness, calluses or thickened skin.

Improve Toe Spacing During Wear

Separators and wraps can hold a flexible little toe away from its neighbour and encourage a more comfortable position while worn. They should be viewed as symptom-management products rather than a way of permanently correcting the underlying fifth-metatarsal deformity.

Conservative treatment generally aims to reduce the pressure created by the bunionette rather than change its permanent shape.

Managing a Bunionette Beyond Padding and Separators

Bunionette products are usually most useful alongside measures that reduce pressure around the outside of the foot.

These may include:

• Choosing wider footwear with adequate toe space
• Avoiding narrow, pointed shoes that compress the forefoot
• Selecting softer shoe uppers that can accommodate the prominence
• Using padding where rubbing occurs
• Temporarily reducing activities that repeatedly aggravate symptoms
• Performing appropriate foot and toe exercises where advised

NHS podiatry guidance identifies footwear changes, padding and suitable exercises among the conservative measures that may help manage symptomatic tailor's bunions. These approaches aim to improve comfort rather than remove the bony deformity.

How to Use Bunionette Products

Correct positioning is important, particularly with separators and adhesive padding.

• Position Separators Gently – Place the separating section between the little toe and its neighbour without stretching the toes excessively. Sleeved products should sit smoothly around the toe, and any protective gel flap should cover the prominent area on the outside of the joint.
• Check the Fit With Your Shoes – Put your socks and shoes on after positioning the product and walk around briefly. There should still be enough room for the toes. If adding a separator makes the forefoot noticeably tighter, consider a slimmer product or wider footwear.
• Build Up Wear According to Comfort – Begin with shorter periods when trying an unfamiliar separator, sleeve or wrap. Increase use only while the product remains comfortable and does not create additional pressure elsewhere.
• Inspect the Skin – Check the little toe and surrounding area after use. Persistent redness, blistering, broken skin or increasing irritation can indicate that the product is too tight, badly positioned or unsuitable for the footwear.

If you have reduced sensation, poor circulation or another condition affecting foot health, seek professional advice before using products that alter pressure around the toes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bunionette?

A bunionette, or tailor's bunion, is a bony prominence around the joint at the base of the little toe on the outside of the foot. The little toe may also angle towards the fourth toe.

What causes bunionettes?

The exact cause is not always clear. Inherited foot shape and the structure of the bones can contribute to their development, while tight or poorly fitting footwear can increase pressure and aggravate symptoms. Other factors may include joint flexibility, previous injuries and inflammatory arthritic conditions.

What is the difference between a bunion and a bunionette?

A bunion develops around the joint at the base of the big toe on the inner side of the foot, while a bunionette forms around the base of the little toe on the outer side.

Both can create a prominent bump that becomes irritated by footwear, but they affect different joints. Some people can develop both on the same foot.

If the problem affects your big-toe joint, products from our bunion collection may be more suitable.

Do bunionette separators work?

Separators can reduce contact between the little toe and its neighbour and may make the area more comfortable while they are being worn.

They do not remove the underlying bony prominence or permanently straighten a structural bunionette.

Should I choose a separator or protector?

Choose a separator if pressure between the little toe and fourth toe is a major problem.

Choose a protector if your main concern is the bunionette rubbing against footwear.

A combined design may be suitable when both problems occur together.

Can I wear bunionette products inside shoes?

Many slim gel separators, protectors, wraps and pads are designed to fit inside suitably spacious footwear. Avoid squeezing a bulky product into narrow footwear, as this may increase pressure around the joint.

Can a bunionette go away without surgery?

Conservative treatment may considerably reduce symptoms, but it does not normally remove the underlying bony deformity.

Wider footwear, padding and other measures are generally used first to reduce pressure and improve comfort.

Surgery may be considered when symptoms remain significant despite non-surgical management.

When should I seek professional advice?

Consider seeing a podiatrist, GP or other qualified healthcare professional if the pain is persistent or worsening, the bunionette significantly limits footwear or walking, or the skin becomes repeatedly inflamed, blistered or damaged.

Professional assessment is also advisable if the little toe deformity is progressing or conservative measures are no longer controlling symptoms.

Learn More About Bunionettes

For more information about tailor's bunions, treatment options and related forefoot problems, explore our guides:

• What Is a Bunionette?
• Does a Bunionette Need Surgery?
• What Is a Bunion? Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
• Do Toe Separators Really Work?
• How to Straighten Toes Naturally
• Reasons for Toe Pain While Walking