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The skin lesion most commonly associated with an allergic reaction, featuring a red flare, is the wheal. Wheals are raised, itchy areas of skin that have a pale center and are surrounded by redness. They are a hallmark of conditions like urticaria (hives), which often occur in response to allergens such as foods, medications, or insect stings. The pathophysiology involves the release of histamine and other mediators from mast cells, which leads to localized swelling and redness, creating the characteristic appearance of a wheal.

In contrast, cysts are closed sac-like structures filled with fluid or semi-solid material and do not present with surrounding redness. Abscesses are localized collections of pus associated with infection and are typically painful, inflamed, and may not display the classic wheal characteristics. Tumors, which can be benign or malignant growths of tissue, do not typically present as wheals or exhibit the red flare associated with immediate allergic reactions. Thus, the wheal is the lesion that best fits the description of being linked to allergic reactions with the accompanying red flare.