Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Do Welts Mean, Medically?Location and AppearanceHow Welts Feel (Sensation)Types and How Long They LastTreatment at a GlanceFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Do Welts Mean, Medically?
Location and Appearance
How Welts Feel (Sensation)
Types and How Long They Last
Treatment at a Glance
Frequently Asked Questions
“Welts” is a term for pink or red swollen bumps on the skin that are often itchy.Welts are usually an indication of either hives orangioedema, the swelling of the skin that can accompany hives.
This article covers what welts are, where they occur, how they feel, and how to treat them.
“Welts” is a lay term for eitherhivesorangioedema, which occurs when histamine, a chemical that is released during anallergicreaction, is released into the bloodstream. During this process, blood vessels pool together under the skin to cause welts.
Welts can appear anywhere on the body. They are usually red or pink with clear edges and have a white center.Their size can range from a pinpoint to about a centimeter (about the size of a ladybug) or larger. Sometimes hives can connect and spread across large areas of the body.
Hives usually have bumpy clear edges.Hives are usually itchy, and at times, they can sting or create a burning sensation.
Some hives last up to a week or longer. Acute hives last up to six weeks, while chronic hives last longer than six weeks.
Welts are usually one or both of the following:
While hives are not usually dangerous, welts or hives around the throat that cause difficulty breathing or that appear suddenly and all over the body should get medical attention immediately.
Hives can be further labeled depending on how long they remain:
If welts do not go away on their own, there are ways to treat them. Some nonmedical ways to heal from welts include:
Medical treatments for welts include:
Summary
Wearing loose clothing, avoiding triggers like food and environmental allergens, and avoiding extreme temperatures can help with treatment. Medical treatments for welts might include antihistamines, steroids, or, in extreme cases or life-threatening allergies, epinephrine, or adrenaline.
A Word From Verywell
Hives can be frustrating to live with, especially if you don’t know where they came from. The good news is that they tend to disappear on their own, usually within a day or week.
If you have a problem with repeated flare-ups of welts or hives, speak to a healthcare provider about possible triggers, or write down when they occur. It’s possible that simple changes like avoiding heat, wearing comfortable clothing, and avoiding certain chemicals and plants could help you minimize flare-ups. The good news is that they are likely not dangerous and often disappear on their own.
Learn MoreWhat Is Dermatographism?
Welts usually go away within a day or week without treatment. However, hives can be treated with antihistamines like Benadryl and anti-itch creams. Chronic hives might require prescription antihistamines or steroid shots (in worse cases) from a doctor. If welts appear suddenly and all over the body or around the throat, they require immediate medical attention. In that case, a person is likely to receive a shot of adrenaline or epinephrine.Learn MoreHow Urticaria (Hives) Is Treated
Welts usually go away within a day or week without treatment. However, hives can be treated with antihistamines like Benadryl and anti-itch creams. Chronic hives might require prescription antihistamines or steroid shots (in worse cases) from a doctor. If welts appear suddenly and all over the body or around the throat, they require immediate medical attention. In that case, a person is likely to receive a shot of adrenaline or epinephrine.
Learn MoreHow Urticaria (Hives) Is Treated
If your hives last longer than six weeks or have other symptoms, like pain, you should speak with your healthcare provider. Some chronic hives could be a symptom of an autoimmune disorder. If you think allergies cause your urticaria (though hives usually are not allergy-related), you might consider allergy testing to confirm what substances you should avoid to minimize hives.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Urticaria (Hives)
If your hives last longer than six weeks or have other symptoms, like pain, you should speak with your healthcare provider. Some chronic hives could be a symptom of an autoimmune disorder. If you think allergies cause your urticaria (though hives usually are not allergy-related), you might consider allergy testing to confirm what substances you should avoid to minimize hives.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Urticaria (Hives)
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.KidsHealth.Hives (urticaria).American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.MedlinePlus.Hives.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.KidsHealth.Hives (urticaria).American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.MedlinePlus.Hives.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
KidsHealth.Hives (urticaria).American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.MedlinePlus.Hives.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.
KidsHealth.Hives (urticaria).
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.
MedlinePlus.Hives.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.
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