A bunion is a foot deformity that often looks like a bony lump that juts out at the side of the big toe. It develops over time and is caused by the enlargement of the bone or the tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe.
As the enlargement worsens, it forces the big toe to lean towards the second toe, throwing off the bone alignment at the joint. So instead of pointing straight ahead, the joint sticks out the side of the toe. Therefore, the more prominent a bunion looks, the more severe the damage is under the base of the foot.
Bunions may appear red or swollen and are often the cause of great pain and discomfort.