12 Easy and Effective Ways to Get Rid of Your Hickeys Easily

Okay, let’s be honest: how many of you got excited after seeing the article’s title? If you are tired of wearing turtlenecks and using concealer to hide the hickeys your partner enthusiastically left on you, you have come to the right place.

Hickeys can be exciting to get, but the aftermath is not just painful sometimes but very embarrassing as well. After all, who likes to walk around with a stamp of love proclamation made by their supposed partner in the heat of the moment? If you are embarrassed by getting caught in public by flashing the bright red-purple mark on your neck, it is time to opt for some easy methods to get rid of hickeys fast.

In this article, we are going to share some easy natural hacks for treating hickeys, not just to help fade them out but also to help with the pain and sting that accompanies them.

What are Hickeys?

Hickeys, also called kiss marks or love bites, are more than just skin blemishes; they resemble accidental tattoos of intimacy found in nature. Severe suction or biting breaks microscopic blood vessels (capillaries) beneath the skin, resulting in reddish-purple patches. The accumulated blood creates a bruise, frequently found on delicate and thinner skin parts like the neck. Although hickeys are harmless and typically disappear with time, their prominence can cause embarrassment.

Why Get Rid of a Hickey?

Situations requiring a professional image are as unpredictable as life itself. Despite its innocent beginning, a hickey can stir in social situations, including meetings with relatives and coworkers and even during video conferences. Most people prefer privacy, while some may wear them as symbols of affection. Consider giving a crucial presentation at work or being a bridesmaid at a wedding. A hickey might draw attention away from your professionalism or attractiveness and toward a fascinating story.

How to Get Rid of Hickeys?

According to Dr. Vij, a hickey is a stain in the dermis, the skin’s second layer. It is not affected by abrasive skin care methods, such as toothpaste scrubs, or attempts to remove the discoloration. Additionally, it could worsen the issue by causing more discoloration, scarring, bleeding, and scrapes.

Check Out the Most Well-liked Hickey Self-Care Advice Instead:

1. Apply a Cold Compress

Blood arteries constrict (become smaller) in colder temperatures. Minimizing the amount of blood that seeps from injured blood vessels can lead to a smaller bruise.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Maria Robinson, a contributor to GoodRx, suggests applying a towel-wrapped ice to the hickey for 15 minutes many times on the first day you discover it.

The best course of action is to apply cold to the region as soon as possible. This should lessen the size and appearance of a bruise.

2. Put on Some Warm Compresses

Your best option is to use traditional warm compresses to treat your hickey. Warmth promotes the expansion, or opening, of surrounding blood vessels, which could facilitate the breakdown or reabsorption of the trapped blood beneath the epidermis.

“Warm compresses can help break down the stain and open up the body’s blood vessels, removing red blood cells that have leaked into your skin from blood vessels.”

3. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is very necessary for the body to produce collagen protein, which is necessary to keep skin, blood vessels, and cartilage healthy and to promote wound healing.

Scurvy, or vitamin C insufficiency, is rare but can present with a variety of symptoms, including slower wound healing and easier bruising.

A person can try using a vitamin C ointment on the affected area to promote healing, though there isn’t much scientific data to support its benefits.

4. Bromelain

Pineapples contain a protein called bromelain, which may lessen bruising and inflammation. Although no studies specifically investigate the use of bromelain for hickeys, there is some indication that it can help reduce post-operative bruising and swelling.

Bromelain can be purchased as a gel that is applied directly to the skin or as pills, capsules, and powders. However, the recommended dosage is not established.

Following the label is recommended because different supplement manufacturers may have their own dose guidelines. Because the FDA does not regulate supplements, brands vary the precise dosage of bromelain in their products.

5. Arnica

The herb arnica is found in some parts of East Asia, Europe, United States, and Canada. It has long been used as a traditional treatment for bruises, discomfort, and swelling.

Arnica comes in three different forms: gel, ointment, and homeopathic pellets. The best option may be to choose an arnica gel or ointment with at least 20% arnica content.

6. Massage In That Area

Massages are well known to increase blood flow and reduce discomfort. Gently stroking or massaging your hickey for a few minutes each day may accelerate fading. It’s essential to touch lightly because too much pressure could exacerbate the bruise.

7. Apply Vitamin K

Studies have demonstrated topical vitamin K accelerates skin healing and clears up bruises. Vitamins are essential to the mechanism by which blood clots.

To lessen the appearance of the bruise, apply a generous amount of vitamin K lotion to your hickey as needed. To increase production even more, you could eat foods high in vitamin K or also take supplements. Try brown rice or leafy vegetables.

8. Mask of Banana Peel

A banana peel’s interior contains vitamins and nutrients that make a bruise look less noticeable. For up to half an hour, or until the peel is brown, rub the inside of a ripe banana on your hickey. Continue doing this at least twice a day until your hickey has gone away.

9. The Cocoa Butter

With good reason: cocoa butter, a lipid made from cocoa beans, is a mainstay of many skin care routines. Research has demonstrated that cocoa butter can smooth wrinkles, stretch marks , scars, and other skin imperfections. Experts believe its abundance of phytochemicals and fatty acids nourishes skin, increases suppleness, and slows aging. To hasten the healing process, rub cocoa butter lotion on your hickey once or twice daily.

10. Think About Laser Treatment

If you have a large event coming up, you can ask your doctor about the laser removal for a hickey within 24 to 48 hours of it initially developing. However, keep in mind that it will still take a day or two for it to fully heal, and this approach can be costly. Your best option after that is to wait out the healing process.

11. Essential Oil of Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil can increase the blood flow to the region, lessening your hickey’s size and intensity.

It is important to use essential oil rather than the extract used for cooking. Additionally, use diluted essential oils at all times. As a general guideline, add roughly twelve drops of carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, for every one to two drops of essential oil.

First, perform a skin patch test. After diluting essential oil, put a tiny bit on the inside of your forearm. If you don’t feel any irritation within a day, the oil should be safe to use elsewhere.

12. Apply Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is well-known for its soothing and healing properties, making it an excellent remedy for hickeys. Its natural anti-inflammatory compounds help reduce swelling and alleviate any discomfort caused by the bruise. To treat a hickey, apply a thin layer of fresh aloe vera gel or a store-bought aloe vera cream directly to the affected area. Gently massage it in and leave it to absorb. For best results, apply it at least twice a day, allowing it to promote skin healing and reduce the appearance of the hickey.

How Long Do Hickeys Last?

Hickeys might take three days to two weeks to heal, just like other injuries. Superficial bruises like hickeys appear on the skin’s outermost layer. Compared to deeper bruises like black eyes, these bruises typically heal faster. While there isn’t a quick remedy for hickeys, there are techniques to make them look less noticeable while your skin heals.

But if the case is different and the hickeys have severely punctured the skin and the capillaries underneath, there are chances that it will take some time for it to heal completely, which is a challenge because hiding a hickey is no joke.

Are Hickeys Dangerous?

Although a hickey shouldn’t cause any serious issues, consult a physician if:

• After a few weeks, the hickey persists.
• The bruising hurts a lot.
• You become aware of additional bruises on your body, mainly if you are unsure how they occurred.
• The bruise has a bulge on top of it.

These symptoms can indicate a clotting issue or blood illness, among other medical conditions.

Is it Possible For Hickeys To Cause Blood Clots?

Hickeys can produce clogs in your major blood vessels and result in a stroke, according to those who say they are bad news. Some people may also claim that hickeys might spread herpes or result in permanent discoloration.

There is a risk of deadly blood clots, but there is a catch. When capillaries burst and leak into the surrounding tissues, blood cells can jam adjacent channels, leading to clots. Rarely, clots may result in significant problems, like a stroke.

Conclusion

It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience to deal with a hickey. These 12 therapies, which range from natural cures to cold compresses and warm treatment, provide efficient means of speeding healing and decreasing visibility. Remember that every person responds differently to each technique, so feel free to try them out in moderation to see which one works best for you. Above all, remember that hickeys are brief and quite normal. Be confident in your approach, whether you treat or keep them hidden. Little surprises in life shouldn’t make you doubt yourself.

• Aug 2018
  Written by Somapika D
• Dec 2024
  Edited by Ankita