Whelked is a term used to describe the appearance of raised, spiral markings on a surface, especially on the skin. Synonyms for whelked include welts, ridges, bumps, lumps, nodules and protuberances. Other related words include bulges, swellings, nodulations, humps and elevation. These terms are commonly used to describe the texture of the skin when it is affected by conditions such as acne, eczema or hives. In addition to skin-related conditions, whelked or similar terms can also be used to describe other surfaces, such as the texture of fabric, the appearance of waves on water, or the shapes of rocks or geological formations.