When you choose shoes, you probably pay more attention to their color and style rather than your comfort. If a new pair of shoes don’t press or rub your feet, it doesn’t mean that it would be comfortable. However, you can use shoes for wells or even months before you notice that they don’t fit you. In this article, we gathered six unobvious signs that you choose the wrong shoes.

1. Bunions

A bunion is a bony bump on the inner side of your foot near the big toe. This condition develops when the big toe joint shifts out of its place. Despite the fact that bunions are hereditary disease, wrong shoe choice can also aggravate the condition. If you prefer to wear high heels or shoes with a narrow toe box, the likelihood to develop bunions increases. The main problem is that at the early stages, bunions can cause only visual discomfort. But in advanced cases, this condition can lead to severe pain and gait problems. 

2. Ingrown toenails

If you constantly face a problem of ingrown toenails, it’s high time to change your shoes. Most often, toenails ingrow into the skin when they are subjected to constant pressure. This means that the toe box of your shoes is low and press your toes. This pressure can be mild but if you have a predisposition to ingrown toenails, it acts as the main factor. 

Ingrown toenails are quite dangerous because they can lead to inflammation if left untreated. However, you shouldn’t try to cut ingrown toenails yourself because you can damage the toenail and surrounding tissues. Make an appointment with a foot doctor to treat an ingrown toenail. Afterward, be sure to wear shoes that don’t press on your toes.

3. Swelling

When your shoes are tight, they can interfere with normal blood circulation. This may lead to swelling and discomfort. Moreover, some shoes can cause swelling because of their design that doesn’t fit your feet anatomically. This doesn’t mean that these shoes are bad, they simply don’t suit your particular feet form.

Swelling can also occur if you spend too much time wearing high heels. If your work or lifestyle requires wearing high heels constantly, try to choose a medium heel that will not put your feet into an unnatural position.

4. Foot pain

Foot pain can have a lot of reasons. Most often it occurs because of tiredness and underlying medical conditions. However, ill-fitting shoes can also cause painful sensations in your feet. Moreover, if you constantly wear wrong shoes, it can lead to micro-injuries like tendonitis of the calcaneus tendon and plantar fasciitis. 

If the foot pain is occasional, you can ease it with the help of a warm bath and massage. But when your feet are constantly acing, this is a red flag that you need medical attention.

5. Gait changes

Uncomfortable shoes can make you change your gait. If you wear wrong shoes, you subconsciously avoid unpleasant sensations and transfer the body mass on your toes or feet sides. Ill-fitted shoes can lead to coxarthrosis, a condition that means degenerative changes in the hip joint. This disease causes pain, restriction of movement in the hip joint, and gait changes.

6. Unpleasant odor

Unpleasant foot odor can also develop as a result of the wrong shoe choice. Shoes made of textile materials and leather substitutes interfere with air exchange that makes your feet smelly. If your feet are sweating, the shoes absorb the smell and intensify it. Choose shoes made of genuine leather, don't wear the same pair of shoes for several days in a row, and always dry your shoes. If possible, carry a spare pair of shoes and socks.