Do you sometimes suffer from a sore little toe when you are wearing shoes? If you do you are not alone as it is a common problem that people experience either because of the shoes they choose to wear or because of problems with the foot itself. Learning how to stop your pinky toe from hurting in shoes can save you from pain and discomfort and help you to walk with ease again.
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Why Does My Little Toe Hurt in Shoes?
The key to solving the friction, pain or pressure often involves a process of elimination to discover where the actual problem lies. We will discuss 10 areas where pinky toe pain tends to cause a problem when you are wearing shoes.
Sometimes the issue will be relatively apparent and visible on the toe but on occasion, the reason for your painful toes may be more difficult to identify. If this is the case remember that a trained podiatrist should be able to help especially for more complex problems.
So what are the most common causes of little toe pain in shoes? Here are the main areas where people tend to experience discomfort.
Shoes Rubbing Your Little Toe? – Wear Properly Fitting Shoes
The first reason for little toe foot pain is the most obvious which is you need to be wearing the right-sized footwear to prevent your shoes from hurting your feet.
When you are buying shoes it is essential that you choose a pair that fit well and that aren’t too tight. If your feet are two different sizes always make sure that you buy your shoes to fit the largest size so that there is no pinching, pressure or rubbing. Where possible make sure you buy your shoes later on in the day when your feet have had a chance to expand from standing so that you get a better fit.
When you are trying on a pair of new shoes always make sure that the width of the shoe leaves plenty of room for your little toes to move around freely. This toe box area needs to leave enough room for your toes width-wise and also in the length of the shoe. Really check the toe box area carefully when picking out shoes and press your shoe down at the tip to check that your toes have room to move.
Double-check that there are no seams or irritants inside the shoe that could also cause a problem. Tight shoes mean that there is friction between your foot and the shoe which could cause a problem. Walking around the shop and assessing how comfortable the shoes are before committing to buy them is important and will prevent you from making a poor purchase.
Taking this extra time wearing the shoes in the store can go a long way to preventing shoe problems at home when it is too late to return them.
Pinky Toe Pain Relief – Stretch Your Shoes
So what can you do if you have bought shoes that are slightly the wrong size and they are rubbing your little toe? Well, the next solution is to find ways to stretch the shoes to see if that created a better fit and prevents the friction which is causing you pain.
Stretching shoes to prevent blisters or pain is a way of helping to remedy the problem with tight shoes. Just remember that there is always a limit to how much you will be able to stretch your shoes either in width or length. Stretching is however a great solution for people who need to increase their shoe by anywhere up to one shoe size.
There are plenty of methods to help you stretch your shoes but our favorites include buying a shoe stretcher to widen or lengthen the shoe. These simple devices are placed inside your shoes and can be tightened to expand the size of the footwear. This particular shoe widener can even help to add stretch to areas where you might have bunions or corns.
Whilst shoe stretchers are relatively inexpensive there is another hack that you can use which is virtually free that can help to stop tight shoes. That is 
Simply place a plastic bag filled with water into the area of the shoe that is causing the problem. Make sure that the bag is sufficient to prevent the water from bursting into the shoe. Then place the shoes into the freezer. As the water freezes, it expands and that can stretch the shoe for you.
Finally, another solution to the tight shoe problem is using this Foot Fitter Shoe Stretch Spray. This needs to be sprayed onto the particular pair that have a problem to help stretch the leather, suede or canvas. Whilst the spray is saturating the shoe material wear them around the house and they should start to expand to the shape of your foot.
How to Stop Shoes Rubbing My Little Toe? – Wear Socks
If you do wear shoes that are the correct size but you are still getting rubbing or blisters on your little toe then you need to think about wearing some socks in order to lessen the friction.
Socks can help the wearer protect their feet and help to stop blisters from forming. Double-layer socks or anti-blister socks in particular help prevent friction and keep your feet dry. Sweat has a habit of softening the skin on your toes making them more vulnerable to blisters or pain however moisture-wicking socks can help to keep your feet dry which helps to prevent blisters.
Thick socks can also be helpful it will just depend on the space you have available in your shoes. Thick socks will be more protective however if they are too bulky that can also create a problem.
Pinky Toes Hurt in Shoes? – Invest in some Toe Sleeves
If you want to know how to stop your pinky toe from hurting in shoes then you should also investigate toe sleeves and what they can do to help.
These are gel toe covers that you can place around your pinky toe to help protect it from blisters or friction. They are also great if any of your toes have a corn, callus or sore spot that is irritating the skin or causing discomfort.
These particular gel covers are flexible and help to provide cushioning. The gel sleeves can also be cut down to size to suit your toes so that they fit comfortably on the foot.
Shoes Too Narrow and Hurt Those Pinky Toes – Toe Tape
A similar way of helping to stop shoes rubbing your little toe is using toe tape for blister prevention and friction prevention. There are plenty of different variations of toe tape on the market so you may have to experiment to find the best product to suit your needs.
We like this toe tape that comes in a roll and is made from a foam-type material. It is waterproof and also good at preventing pressure which can rub your toes. All you need to do is cut it to size and wrap it around the toe that has the problem. The material is flexible and can be shaped to suit your needs to help prevent irritation on your pinky toe.
Pinky Toe Problems – Blister Prevention Spray
If you want to stop a shoe from rubbing your little toe then other anti-blister products can also be helpful including blister prevention spray. A spray is a great way to form a barrier between your shoe and your pinky toe to stop blisters and help your foot from being hurt.
Preheels+ is a spray that is supposed to be durable and flexible so that you create a barrier on the skin that can help to prevent pain or rubbing. It is also sweat-resistant which means that your skin remains dry. When your skin becomes moist is more likely to suffer from blisters so it makes sense to use a product to help keep your feet sweat-free.
This particular brand is good for all types of shoes and it can be used on everything from your heels to your toes.
Pinky Toe Callus Pain – Get a Professional Pedicure
If you want to know how to stop your pinky toe from hurting in shoes then you might also need to get help by having a professional pedicure treatment.
The fact is that many problems with foot pain or rubbing are caused not just by shoes but because of problems with the foot itself. You may have calluses or corns for example that have changed your skin and made it more prone to problems when you are walking.
In many cases whilst you may be able to shield the problem area with blister cushions or toe shields you have not actually solved the root cause of the problem. This is where a podiatrist can help.
A medi-pedi or medicial pedicure is a great method to treat the underlying reasons why your pinky toes might hurt. The professional conducting the pedicure will help you find better ways to manage your problems and remove any problem skin that is rubbing your toe.
Pinky Toe Pads- Moleskin Pads
Whilst we have talked about toe gel covers and tape to wear on your feet it is also worth mentioning moleskin pads as a way of preventing blisters, friction and pain.
Moleskin pads come in all shapes and sizes and are used as a barrier between your shoes and your feet. This particular set of moleskin pads have 110 for you to use and 11 different shapes so there is bound to be something that will suit your feet.
You can either stick the pad to the shoe itself or to your feet to help prevent any rubbing. The only thing that you need to remember is that you can’t get your feet wet whilst using them so they aren’t suitable for wearing in a pool or in a bath or shower.
Pinky Toe Joint Pain – Tailors Bunion
If you have never heard of a tailors bunion it is worth looking up the term as it is possible that this could be causing a problem and causing pinky toe pain.
A tailors bunion tends to occur at the base of your little toe when the fifth metatarsal bone starts to stick out. The prominence of that bone changes the shape of your foot and causes problems when you are wearing a shoe.
There are a number of non-surgical treatments that you can use to see if that helps the problem. As an example, you may be able to ice the little toe area to reduce inflammation which can help reduce the pain. Combine that with rest and pain relief medication and you may see an improvement.
As we have already discussed you may also need to review the shoes that you are wearing and find ones that are wider so that your pinky toe isn’t rubbing against your shoe material.
Orthotics are also a solution to help alter the foot’s gait to make it easier for you when you are walking. Pads and tape as we have already discussed can also help. If all of these fail then you may need to look at a surgical option.
Sore Pinky Toe – Anti-Friction Blister Balm
Finally, last but not least if you want to know how to stop your pinky toe from hurting in shoes think about buying some blister balm to put on your toes.
Anti-friction or blister balm usually comes in a stick that can be rubbed over your pinky toe or any other problem area of the foot to help reduce friction.
We like Vanibiss Anti Blister Balm which is natural and has no fragrance. You simply need to put the balm on the problem area and the blocker product will help to keep your toe protected by creating a protective shield around the area allowing your toe to glide without suffering from friction.
This is also a great product because it is totally portable and can be carried with you in a pocket or a bag in case you need to reapply during the day.
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