How to Remove Hickeys – A hickey is a small red, blue or purple mark on the skin caused when someone sucks or bites on your skin as done during passionate kissing. It is essentially a bruise that occurs due to bleeding under the skin surface because of a minor injury to the superficial blood vessels (blood capillaries). Because these bruises appear during acts of lovemaking, they are also called love bites or kiss bites.
They are not a serious condition, nor do they lead to any serious side effects. However, hickeys can make the skin pretty tender. They may also be a cause of embarrassment, especially during public or social appearances. The size and color of the hickey may vary. Although a hickey can appear anywhere on the body, they are most commonly seen on the neck.
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How long do hickeys last?
Hickeys may generally disappear in a few days or up to two weeks. The time it takes for a hickey to disappear may depend upon the size of the bruise. A larger hickey may take longer to disappear than a smaller one.
How to Remove Hickeys
If you need swift and immediate cover, you can always play around with scarfs, collars, or turtlenecks. Concealer will work in a pinch, too. These won’t help the hickey disappear more quickly, but it might spare you a few quizzical looks.
No treatment will make a hickey go away overnight, but these quick hickey treatments might take a day or two off the bruise’s longevity.
1. Cold spoon or cold compress
In the first day after a new bruise, you can apply a cold compress or chilled spoon directly to the hickey. This will slow down the flow of blood from the broken capillaries, and it may help reduce the size of the bruise.
Place a spoon in a freezer or fridge for 30 minutes. Then, apply it directly to the spot. Leave it for 10 minutes, and repeat several times through the first 48 hours or until it begins to lighten. If you have an ice pack, you can do the same. A washcloth dampened with cold water is also a good option.
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2. Aloe vera pulp
The thick, gelatinous pulp inside an aloe vera leaf may reduce inflammationTrusted Source, skin swelling, and pain. Apply a thin layer of the pulp directly to the bruise two times per day. If the pulp causes irritation or your skin seems sensitive to it, stop using it.
3. Peppermint oil
This essential oil, whose main component is menthol, may help stimulate blood flow where it’s applied, which could speed up bruise healing. But peppermint oil can also irritate skin.
You’ll need to dilute it with a carrier oil. A ratio of 1 or 2 drops peppermint oil to 15 drops of carrier oil, such as jojoba or almond oil, is recommended.
Massage the oil into the area with light pressure. Too much pressure could make the bruise worse.
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4. Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is used in a variety of topical skin treatments. While researchTrusted Source on cocoa butter reveals mixed results, many swear by cocoa butter for smoothing scars, reducing stretch marks and wrinkles, and eliminating or decreasing other superficial marks on skin. Cocoa butter may also help with skin elasticity, which may improve appearance.
Apply the thick cream to the area one to two times per day. Don’t use a lot of pressure, or you risk making the bruise bigger.
5. Pineapple
Pineapple is rich with a type of enzyme called bromelain. It’s been known to reduce pain and sorenessTrusted Source, and when applied to skin, it may help ease ease inflammationTrusted Source and swelling.
Using this treatment is as simple as applying a slice of pineapple right to the effected spot. You can do this four or five times a day, but watch for irritation. Pineapple is a very acidic food, and the delicate skin of your neck may become irritated quickly.
6. Vitamin K cream
Vitamin K plays a role in helping your blood clot properly. In cream form, it may speed upTrusted Source bruise healing. Apply vitamin K cream directly to the skin one to two times per day.
You can also boost your vitamin K levels by eating foods rich in the nutrient, like leafy greens, soy beans, pork, and poultry.
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7. Banana peel
The banana fruit isn’t the only beneficial part of a banana. The peel hosts a great number of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants, and it can have a soothing and calming impact on skin.
You can apply the peel directly to your hickey, and it may help reduce signs of bruising and irritation. Leave the peel in place for up to 30 minutes, or until the banana peel turns brown. You can do this two to three times per day, but stop using it if your skin becomes irritated.
8. Vitamin C cream
Vitamin C may be best known for its ability to boost the immune system, but it also plays a vital role in the production of collagen, a protein that helps skin stay strong and gives it its elasticity. Applying a vitamin C cream directly to the bruise may also speed up skin healing and eliminate the bruise quickly.
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How long do hickeys last without treatment?
If left alone, a hickey will fade on its own in about 10 days to 2 weeks. Your body will slowly break down the bits of blood that sit under the skin and reabsorb them. The bruise will darken a bit after the first few days and begin to change colors until it fades entirely.
Some of these treatments may speed up the healing by a day or two, but you could also prolong the hickey by aggravating the bruise with too much pressure. Be gentle when applying any of the treatments or massaging the skin.
How to hide a hickey while it heals
If you have a big event coming up, you can ask your doctor about laser removal for a hickey in the 24 to 48 hours after it first appears. Beyond that, though, even lasering can’t help much, and you’ll just have to wait out the healing process.
With no real way to remove a hickey, your best bet is to keep it covered, whether by clothing or with light makeup. Time to stock up on scarves!
Conclusion
There you have it: Now you’re equipped with the best, no–B.S. tricks for getting rid of a hickey. Just remember though, that while these DIY solutions will definitely speed up the healing time of your hickey, they unfortunately won’t make ’em disappear overnight. But if you walk through these steps, you can expect your hickey to heal noticeably faster—and that, my friends, is what I call a win.