Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
A welt is an area of skin that becomes raised after pressure is applied or an injury occurs. Other causes include allergic reactions or infections.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for welts.
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Symptoms of Welts
Welts can appear on theskinand come with no other symptoms. They are typically the same color as the skin. However, they can turn red or pink and become itchy. The shape of the welt may be round and small, although it can be randomly shaped and more prominent. Typically welts resolve within a few days, but they can become chronic and recur often.
Are Welts Considered a Rash?Welts can develop as solo or a small number of raised bumps on the skin, but if they grow in a cluster, they can be considered askin rash.
Are Welts Considered a Rash?
Welts can develop as solo or a small number of raised bumps on the skin, but if they grow in a cluster, they can be considered askin rash.
Causes of Welts
Several things can cause a welt to develop on the skin. Pressure or an injury is one of the leading causes because the skin becomes swollen, inflamed, and rises in response to that injury.
Welts can develop when a person breaks out intohivesas well. Other causes can include:
What Can Trigger Welts or Hives?Some things, such as drinking alcohol and caffeine, can trigger welts in some people. Other triggers include exposure to sunlight, exercise, and swimming.
What Can Trigger Welts or Hives?
Some things, such as drinking alcohol and caffeine, can trigger welts in some people. Other triggers include exposure to sunlight, exercise, and swimming.
What Is Cold Rash (Cold Urticaria)?
What Medications Can Cause Welts?
Certain medications may cause welts to develop, such as:
If, after taking medication, you develop welts or a hives rash, contact your healthcare provider. They will be able to tell you if it’s safe to continue taking the medication or help you find one that works for you without causing welts.
How to Treat Welts
Other treatments can vary depending on the cause and can include:
Before At-Home TreatmentIf you experience welts or hives, you must see your healthcare provider before starting at-home treatment to determine if an underlying health issue is causing them that requires more aggressive treatments.
Before At-Home Treatment
If you experience welts or hives, you must see your healthcare provider before starting at-home treatment to determine if an underlying health issue is causing them that requires more aggressive treatments.
Xolair for the Treatment of Chronic Hives
Are There Tests to Diagnose Welts?
However, healthcare providers may also inquire about how you generally feel to see if there is any other type of infection or illness. If they suspect there might be, the tests they perform will vary depending on what they think could be causing them. Some possible tests include:
How Does an Allergy Test Work?To test for allergies, healthcare providers typically use theskin prick test.The test involves pricking the skin with a small amount of allergen to see if there’s a reaction. If a welt develops, an allergy is present.
How Does an Allergy Test Work?
To test for allergies, healthcare providers typically use theskin prick test.The test involves pricking the skin with a small amount of allergen to see if there’s a reaction. If a welt develops, an allergy is present.
What Is Urticaria (Hives)?
Welts or hives can develop spontaneously and may go away over time. You may not ever get them again. Typically, you will not need to see a medical provider for an acute (temporary) case.
Living With Chronic Urticaria (Hives)
Summary
Welts, also known as hives or wheals, are raised bumps on the skin. They can develop because of an allergic reaction, pressure on the area, an infection, or an underlying health disorder. In some cases, emotional stress and certain medications can bring on a bout of welts.
When you develop welts on your body often or more than once, it’s best to see your healthcare provider. Different causes will require various treatments, so getting a proper diagnosis is vital to manage the welts and your overall health properly.
A Word From Verywell
Welts can be unsightly and uncomfortable, but they aren’t always a cause for concern. Typically, they develop because of mild irritations, injuries, or allergies. If you develop welts regularly, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.
While most welt cases aren’t harmful, they can indicate a health issue. You want to be safe regarding your health, and seeing someone for your welts may help you find treatment for a disorder you are unaware you even have.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, but welts and hives present the same on the skin. They appear as raised bumps that can be skin-colored, red, or pink. Typically, they are itchy. If an injury occurs causing the welt, there may also be pain in the area.Learn MoreGallery of Hives Pictures for Identifying RashesSeveral things can cause welts to develop on the skin. Allergic reactions may be the most common cause. However, welts can also develop because of injuries, infections, or underlying health disorders. In some cases, the cause of the welts is unknown.Learn MoreUrticaria (Hives): Symptoms, Causes, and TreatmentIf you know the cause of your welts and it’s nothing serious, you can treat them at home using a cold compress and anti-itch lotion such as calamine lotion. Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antihistamines may also keep welts at bay if an allergic reaction causes them. Before starting at-home treatment, contact your healthcare provider to ensure there is no underlying health issue to blame for your welts.Learn MoreHow to Treat Hives: 12 Effective Ways
No, but welts and hives present the same on the skin. They appear as raised bumps that can be skin-colored, red, or pink. Typically, they are itchy. If an injury occurs causing the welt, there may also be pain in the area.Learn MoreGallery of Hives Pictures for Identifying Rashes
No, but welts and hives present the same on the skin. They appear as raised bumps that can be skin-colored, red, or pink. Typically, they are itchy. If an injury occurs causing the welt, there may also be pain in the area.
Learn MoreGallery of Hives Pictures for Identifying Rashes
Several things can cause welts to develop on the skin. Allergic reactions may be the most common cause. However, welts can also develop because of injuries, infections, or underlying health disorders. In some cases, the cause of the welts is unknown.Learn MoreUrticaria (Hives): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Several things can cause welts to develop on the skin. Allergic reactions may be the most common cause. However, welts can also develop because of injuries, infections, or underlying health disorders. In some cases, the cause of the welts is unknown.
Learn MoreUrticaria (Hives): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
If you know the cause of your welts and it’s nothing serious, you can treat them at home using a cold compress and anti-itch lotion such as calamine lotion. Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antihistamines may also keep welts at bay if an allergic reaction causes them. Before starting at-home treatment, contact your healthcare provider to ensure there is no underlying health issue to blame for your welts.Learn MoreHow to Treat Hives: 12 Effective Ways
If you know the cause of your welts and it’s nothing serious, you can treat them at home using a cold compress and anti-itch lotion such as calamine lotion. Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antihistamines may also keep welts at bay if an allergic reaction causes them. Before starting at-home treatment, contact your healthcare provider to ensure there is no underlying health issue to blame for your welts.
Learn MoreHow to Treat Hives: 12 Effective Ways
9 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.NHS Inform.Urticaria (Hives).Abasaeed Elhag SA, Ibrahim H, Abdelhadi S.Angioedema and urticaria in a COVID-19 patient: a case report and review of the literature.JAAD Case Rep.2020 Oct;6(10):1091-1094. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.07.042American Academy of Dermatology Association.Welts on skin due to cold temperature could be hives.Ograczyk-Piotrowska A, Gerlicz-Kowalczuk Z, Pietrzak A, Zalewska-Janowska AM.Stress, itch and quality of life in chronic urticaria females.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2018 Apr;35(2):156-160. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75237Kaplan AP.Chronic urticaria: pathogenesis and treatment.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2004 Sep;114(3):465-474; quiz 475. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.049Kayiran MA, Akdeniz N.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care.North Clin Istanb.2019 Feb 14;6(1):93-99. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.75010American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.Vas K, Altmayer A, Mihályi L, et al.Successful treatment of autoimmune urticaria with low-dose prednisolone therapy administered for a few months: a case series of 42 patients.Dermatology.2017;233(6):419-424. doi:10.1159/000484085Health Link BC.Allergy tests.
9 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.NHS Inform.Urticaria (Hives).Abasaeed Elhag SA, Ibrahim H, Abdelhadi S.Angioedema and urticaria in a COVID-19 patient: a case report and review of the literature.JAAD Case Rep.2020 Oct;6(10):1091-1094. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.07.042American Academy of Dermatology Association.Welts on skin due to cold temperature could be hives.Ograczyk-Piotrowska A, Gerlicz-Kowalczuk Z, Pietrzak A, Zalewska-Janowska AM.Stress, itch and quality of life in chronic urticaria females.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2018 Apr;35(2):156-160. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75237Kaplan AP.Chronic urticaria: pathogenesis and treatment.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2004 Sep;114(3):465-474; quiz 475. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.049Kayiran MA, Akdeniz N.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care.North Clin Istanb.2019 Feb 14;6(1):93-99. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.75010American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.Vas K, Altmayer A, Mihályi L, et al.Successful treatment of autoimmune urticaria with low-dose prednisolone therapy administered for a few months: a case series of 42 patients.Dermatology.2017;233(6):419-424. doi:10.1159/000484085Health Link BC.Allergy tests.
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.
NHS Inform.Urticaria (Hives).Abasaeed Elhag SA, Ibrahim H, Abdelhadi S.Angioedema and urticaria in a COVID-19 patient: a case report and review of the literature.JAAD Case Rep.2020 Oct;6(10):1091-1094. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.07.042American Academy of Dermatology Association.Welts on skin due to cold temperature could be hives.Ograczyk-Piotrowska A, Gerlicz-Kowalczuk Z, Pietrzak A, Zalewska-Janowska AM.Stress, itch and quality of life in chronic urticaria females.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2018 Apr;35(2):156-160. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75237Kaplan AP.Chronic urticaria: pathogenesis and treatment.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2004 Sep;114(3):465-474; quiz 475. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.049Kayiran MA, Akdeniz N.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care.North Clin Istanb.2019 Feb 14;6(1):93-99. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.75010American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.Vas K, Altmayer A, Mihályi L, et al.Successful treatment of autoimmune urticaria with low-dose prednisolone therapy administered for a few months: a case series of 42 patients.Dermatology.2017;233(6):419-424. doi:10.1159/000484085Health Link BC.Allergy tests.
NHS Inform.Urticaria (Hives).
Abasaeed Elhag SA, Ibrahim H, Abdelhadi S.Angioedema and urticaria in a COVID-19 patient: a case report and review of the literature.JAAD Case Rep.2020 Oct;6(10):1091-1094. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.07.042
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Welts on skin due to cold temperature could be hives.
Ograczyk-Piotrowska A, Gerlicz-Kowalczuk Z, Pietrzak A, Zalewska-Janowska AM.Stress, itch and quality of life in chronic urticaria females.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2018 Apr;35(2):156-160. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75237
Kaplan AP.Chronic urticaria: pathogenesis and treatment.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2004 Sep;114(3):465-474; quiz 475. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.049
Kayiran MA, Akdeniz N.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care.North Clin Istanb.2019 Feb 14;6(1):93-99. doi:10.14744/nci.2018.75010
American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.
Vas K, Altmayer A, Mihályi L, et al.Successful treatment of autoimmune urticaria with low-dose prednisolone therapy administered for a few months: a case series of 42 patients.Dermatology.2017;233(6):419-424. doi:10.1159/000484085
Health Link BC.Allergy tests.
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