What should you know about red welts on body?

Hives are raised areas caused by temporary release of inflammatory chemicals in the skin. Individual welts may change shape, join together, or disappear while new ones appear elsewhere. Heat, pressure, exercise, infection, medicines, foods, and contact exposures can be triggers, although a trigger is not always found. Deeper swelling of the lips, eyelids, hands, or throat is called angioedema and may occur with hives. A rash that stays fixed in one place, bruises, blisters, or hurts rather than itches needs a different assessment.

Take photographs and note foods, medicines, illness, heat, pressure, and new products before the episode. Keep the skin cool, wear loose clothing, and avoid scratching, hot showers, and suspected triggers until advice is available. A pharmacist or clinician may recommend an oral antihistamine after checking age, pregnancy, health conditions, and other medicines. Oral corticosteroid treatment is sometimes used for selected severe flares under medical supervision; it is not a routine self-treatment.

Call emergency services immediately for trouble breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, faintness, or sudden swelling of the tongue or mouth. Seek urgent assessment for rapidly increasing facial swelling, vomiting with widespread welts, or feeling seriously unwell. Arrange a routine review when episodes keep returning, last beyond a short-lived flare, disturb sleep, or leave bruising or pain.

Could these welts be hives or another rash? Which triggers should I record? Is an antihistamine suitable with my medicines, and what symptoms mean I need emergency help?