Hives or Welts

Welts or wheals are skin lesions that appear as raised, reddened areas that usually cause itching. They are part of what is known as hives and can arise suddenly and move from place to place.

Common symptoms: Bumps or plaques on the skin, intense itching, redness, and, in some cases, swelling in areas such as the lips or eyelids.

Common causes: They can be triggered by allergies to foods or medications, bites, infections, heat, stress, or without an identifiable cause.

Which specialist treats them? The dermatologist and the allergist are the professionals who assess this type of skin reaction, with the general practitioner as the first point of contact. If the welts are recurrent, very extensive, or accompanied by difficulty breathing or significant swelling, it is advisable to seek professional care, and in that last case urgently.