What is the common name for a type of skin reaction that appears as red, raised bumps?

The correct response is the term “wheals,” which specifically refers to raised, red bumps that are often associated with allergic reactions or insect bites. Wheals are a result of localized edema, or swelling, in the skin, typically caused by the release of histamine from mast cells in response to an allergen. This type of reaction can occur quickly and the wheals may appear and disappear rapidly.

Understanding the nature of wheals is essential in recognizing allergic conditions and differentiating them from other skin issues. While rashes, dermatitis, and eczema can involve redness and irritation of the skin, they do not specifically denote the characteristic raised and well-defined bumps that wheals present. Rashes can be varied in their appearances, dermatitis generally refers to inflammation of the skin, and eczema is often used to describe a specific group of chronic skin conditions marked by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Each of these conditions has its own attributes but does not specifically match the definition of wheals.