The tailor's bunion is so called due to it being highly prevalent with tailors, who would sit cross legged on hard floors for hours on end as they made their clothes.
Sitting in such a position places unnatural pressure on the interphalangeal joints causing a permanent displacement of the metatarsal head, often accompanied with excess bone formation producing an unsightly lump on the joints of the small toes.
Due to the deformity, wearing shoes becomes problematic with the outgrowth rubbing on the uppers of the shoes causing pain and irritation.
When the bunion becomes inflamed and the skin breaks the area can become prone to infection.
As with so many minor conditions, early treatment makes for easy correction, however neglect can see the problem worsen into something far more serious, causing chronic pain and discomfort when walking often requiring surgery to correct the problem.
A bunionectomy - the surgical removal of a tailor's bunion - repositions the bones of the small toe, sometimes requiring reconstruction, or destruction of part of the joint, and the removal of excess bone to allow the toe to align properly.
Fortunately a visit to the doctor for a diagnosis and treatment early in tailor's bunion formation will see the condition easily reversed.
However for those who do not have sufficient medical cover, or who want to treat the problem at home, there is an excellent range of products on the market suitable for mild to moderate complaints.
Since the tailor's bunion is most often caused by tight and ill fitting footwear, the first step to arrest development is to change shoes to those with a wide toe box and soft and flexible uppers.
Getting the feet into a normal and healthy position can be sufficient in itself to stop further development, and to encourage the toes back into place.
Specialist bunion shoes can be expensive, however shoes such as Crocs, open toe sandals, and well worn in leather shoes will help, easing pressure on the joint of the small toe.
To help encourage the little toe back into the correct position, a range of toe stretchers and toe straighteners can be purchased easily and cheaply, with tailor's bunion night splints offering an excellent treatment.
If you think that you may have a tailor's bunion forming, the key to correction is to take action early.