Originally Posted On: https://www.11oysters.com/how-to-get-rid-of-a-hickey/

How To Get Rid Of A Hickey — 16 Simple And Effective Ways

Use cold compresses, massage, or natural remedies to erase those love marks.

If you’re searching online for ways to quickly get rid of hickeys, you’ve come to the right place. Hickeys, or love bites, are bruises caused by excessive sucking or biting on the skin. While they may feel great in the heat of the moment, the marks they leave can be embarrassing and hard to conceal. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of natural remedies to heal and hide hickeys faster. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is a Hickey and What Causes It?

A hickey is essentially a bruise

Hickeys are bruises caused by the rupture of small blood vessels just beneath the skin’s surface. This rupture occurs when blood leaks out and seeps into the surrounding tissue. While biting or forceful kissing can also cause hickeys, sucking is usually the primary culprit as it more easily breaks the delicate capillaries under the skin.

Hickeys don’t take long to form—20 to 30 seconds of targeted sucking is enough to create one—and they usually appear very quickly. You might be surprised to see a visible hickey just 5 to 10 minutes after an intimate session! Hickeys are most common on softer, more sensitive areas of skin, such as the neck, shoulders, and chest, though technically, they can appear anywhere.

What Do Hickeys Look Like?

Most hickeys look quite similar

Initially, the blood beneath the skin appears deep red. As the blood dries, the hickey turns dark purple or brown, forming the distinct mark we recognize. As the hickey heals, it may fade into a pale yellow color, which is typical for most bruises.

In terms of size, hickeys generally match the size and shape of a person’s mouth, which isn’t surprising. This means they’re typically oval-shaped and not necessarily very large. Sometimes, you might have multiple hickeys clustered together, especially if your partner tends to focus on the same area. This often makes hickeys on the neck more noticeable.

16 Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Hickeys

1. Cold Compress (First 48 Hours)

Want to know how to get rid of a hickey fast? The answer is cold compresses, as they can reduce swelling and prevent the spread of the bruise. Cold temperatures slow blood flow from the vessels to the skin. Applying a cold spoon or ice pack to the hickey may help reduce its appearance. This method is most effective when used immediately after the hickey forms.

• How To:Wrap an ice pack or cold spoon in a cloth and press it on the hickey for 15–20 minutes. Repeat every few hours for best results.

2. Warm Compress (After 48 Hours)

If you’re wondering how to get rid of a hickey, warm compresses may be the solution. Applying heat to the area after two days can speed up healing. Heat improves blood circulation in the affected area, aiding the absorption of clotted blood.

• How To:Use a warm cloth or heating pad on the hickey for 10–15 minutes, several times a day.

3. Gentle Massage

Massaging the area can increase blood flow and help break down clotted blood, speeding up healing. However, be gentle, as excessive pressure could worsen the bruise.

• How To:Use your fingertips to softly massage the hickey for a few minutes, several times a day.

4. Light Compression

You might not know this, but applying gentle pressure can help diminish a hickey! Compression redistributes the blood pooled in the area, reducing its visibility and speeding up healing.

• How To:Wrap the hickey area lightly with a clean, soft elastic bandage. Ensure the pressure is moderate and not too tight. Keep the bandage on for 15–20 minutes, then remove it and let the skin rest for at least 30 minutes before repeating.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a soothing and anti-inflammatory remedy that can help bruises heal faster. It’s an excellent option for treating hickeys.

• How To:Extract gel from an aloe vera leaf and mash it with a spoon. Apply the gel to the hickey 2–3 times daily, leave it on for 15–20 minutes, then rinse it off.

6. Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter contains plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and protective skin properties. These can help alleviate hickeys.

• How To:Apply a small amount of cocoa butter to the hickey and gently massage it into the skin. Repeat several times daily for faster results.

7. Arnica

Arnica is a plant-based extract rich in antioxidants, widely used to treat bruises and swelling. It’s a great remedy for speeding up hickey healing.

• How To:Apply arnica cream or gel to the hickey 2–3 times daily. Alternatively, you can take arnica in homeopathic form orally.

8. Banana Peel Mask

Banana peels are an easy and convenient option for treating hickeys. They have antibacterial properties that prevent infection and can help heal the area.

• How To:Rub a fresh banana peel on the hickey for 5–10 minutes, or place it on the area for 20 minutes. Repeat 2–3 times daily.

9. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil, when combined with olive oil, has wound-healing properties that may help fade hickeys.

• How To:Mix 2–3 drops of eucalyptus oil with a teaspoon of olive oil. Apply the mixture to the hickey and let it dry. Repeat 2–3 times daily.

10. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil increases blood flow, which may help reduce the size and severity of a hickey.

• How To:Dilute 1–2 drops of peppermint oil with 10–12 drops of a carrier oil (e.g., coconut or olive oil). Apply to the hickey and massage for 5–10 minutes. Do a patch test before use to avoid irritation.

11. Pineapple and Papaya

Pineapples and papayas are rich in bromelain and papain, enzymes that can break down blood clots and reduce inflammation.

• How To:Apply pineapple or papaya cream to the hickey several times daily or eat the fruits directly.

12. Increase Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin C promotes collagen production and accelerates tissue repair, speeding up hickey healing.

• How To:Apply a vitamin C cream, gel, or serum to the hickey 2–3 times daily. You can also take supplements or eat vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, kiwis, strawberries, bell peppers, and broccoli.

13. Vitamin K Cream

Vitamin K helps with blood clotting and bruise healing. Applying a vitamin K cream can speed up the recovery process.

• How To:Apply vitamin K cream to the hickey 1–2 times daily, or consume vitamin K-rich foods like leafy greens and brown rice.

14. Aspirin

Aspirin can reduce pain and improve blood circulation, potentially helping the hickey heal faster. However, it’s most effective when taken within 24 hours of the hickey forming.

• How To:Take aspirin tablets as directed on the label.

15. Comfrey

Comfrey, a medicinal herb, has anti-inflammatory properties that promote wound healing and bruise recovery.

• How To:Test a small amount of comfrey cream on your skin for irritation. If there’s no reaction, apply it to the hickey and massage gently 1–2 times daily.

16. Quercetin

Quercetin, a powerful flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s a natural and effective option for reducing hickeys.

• How To:Consume quercetin-rich foods, take supplements, or apply skincare products containing quercetin. Perform a patch test before topical use to avoid irritation.

These remedies may help reduce the appearance of hickeys. However, not all remedies are scientifically proven. You may also need to consult a doctor before using certain medications or ointments. Additionally, if your hickey has lasted for several days, these remedies may take longer than usual to work.

Although there is no instant solution for hickeys, some tricks might come in handy when you need to hide them for a few hours.

How to Conceal a Hickey

• Wear high-neck clothing or scarves to cover the mark.
• Use your hair to hide hickeys on the neck.
• Use makeup, like green/purple concealer, regular concealer, and foundation, to hide the mark.

Remedies to Avoid

• Scraping with a coin:Applying too much pressure can worsen the hickey.
• Rubbing with a lip balm cap:There’s no evidence this works.
• Massaging with toothpaste:Similarly, there’s no evidence to support this.

Curious to learn more about hickeys? 11 Oysters has compiled a list of questions and answers you might find helpful to give you a complete understanding!

Do hickeys hurt?

Well, it doesn’t feel like nothing. The sensation leans more toward feeling pressure over pain, but because everyone’s pain tolerance is different, some people may find getting a hickey uncomfortable. One thing to consider if you’re experimenting with this for the first time: Come up with a safe word or an easy way for you to communicate with your partner (and vice versa) should anyone stop enjoying the makeout session.

How to Leave a Hickey on Someone?

Leaving a hickey on someone is actually quite simple. Start by asking your partner if they’re okay with having a little “mark of affection” (especially if it’s in a visible spot).

Then, warm up the area with soft kisses on their neck or wherever you plan to leave the hickey.

Next, press your lips against their skin and form an “O” shape with your mouth. Suck gently but firmly to create a vacuum effect. Teeth aren’t necessary to leave a hickey—suction alone will do the job—but if your partner is into it, you can incorporate some light biting or nibbling.

After about 20 to 30 seconds of consistent suction, you’ll likely notice a visible hickey forming within the next few minutes.

How long do hickeys take to show up?

Hickey marks are going to start showing up pretty quickly. Within five to ten minutes, light bruising can appear on the skin. It can also depend on how long you spend sucking the person’s skin. Twenty to thirty seconds will do the trick, but the longer and harder someone sucks, the darker and more intense the bruising.

How Long Do Hickeys Last?

They can last as long as two weeks.

There’s surprisingly little research done on hickeys, but the general consensus is that they rarely last longer than two weeks, with many hickeys clearing up within just a few days. How long the mark stays on a person is up to the types of hickeys at play (read: the harshness level of the suction involved) and the health of the person affected. The more intense the hickey, the longer it’ll stick around, while the healthier the person is (think: well-hydrated, good circulation, enough iron), the shorter the hickey’s time on earth.

They can show up at any age

The neck, the shoulders, and the chest are seriously sensitive to touch, meaning that being kissed there feels pretty incredible. When you’re newer to kissing and still fine-tuning how to give the Perfect Neck Kiss, you’re more likely to be a little aggressive with your mouth, which is why hickeys tend to show up more on younger or newer kissers. With substantial practice and the right partners, your kissing will probably ease into a less hickey-centric mode. That said, especially if you’re someone who really appreciates a good necking, the occasional love bite can show up at any age.

Are some people more susceptible to hickeys?

Actually, yes. If a body has lower levels of iron (formally referred to as an iron deficiency), it will bruise easier. This means it won’t take as much suction to leave a mark. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you ask), it also means that it will show up darker and stick around longer. This can be the same case for people with thin or sensitive skin. In these cases, the blood vessels usually live closer to the top of the skin and react quicker to irritation.

Can you get a hickey on any part of the body?

Technically, sure. But as mentioned above, hickeys show up where skin is thinner. To give someone a hickey on, say, a forearm or quad would be tougher than the neck or inner part of the elbow.

Are Hickeys Harmful to Your Health?

Hickeys are deep red or purple bruises on the skin caused by someone lightly biting or sucking. The suction can rupture capillaries under the skin, leading to bleeding and swelling. Normal hickeys are generally not dangerous and usually fade within two weeks.

However, consult a doctor if you notice the following:

• Hickey persists beyond two weeks.
• The bruise is painful.
• Unexplained bruising appears elsewhere on your body, far from the hickey.
• There’s a lump under the bruised area.
• Sudden facial paralysis or weakness in facial muscles.

These could be signs of serious conditions such as blood disorders or clotting issues. In rare cases, hickeys can cause strokes due to excessive pressure on the carotid arteries on either side of the neck. The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain, neck, and face. Trauma to these arteries may cause clot formation or dislodge an existing clot, leading to a stroke. To stay safe, avoid leaving hickeys near the sides of the jawline where the carotid arteries are located.

How to Prevent and Avoid Hickeys?

If you feel uncomfortable with hickeys or want to avoid awkward moments caused by them, having an open and honest conversation with your partner is often the most effective way to prevent them.

• If your partner spends too much time on one area, suggest moving to a different spot.
• Ask your partner to be gentler.

Clear communication ensures both partners feel comfortable and respected during intimate moments.

However，Hickeys are seriously no big deal.

Ultimately, if you have a hickey that you were given in a consensual way, you just have a bruise, and it’s probably going to be gone in a few days. So try not to stress about it if you’re feeling worried! Likewise, if you’ve given someone a hickey they wanted , as long as you’re both committed to keeping the situation as respectful as possible, it’s all good.

11 Oysters highly appreciate Elevate’s exploration of ways to get rid of hickeys and thank her for sharing this valuable information. This article is based on Elevate’s medium post, “ How To Get Rid Of A Hickey — 16 Simple And Effective Ways ”.