Buzz
A hickey, also known as a 'love bite,' is a temporary bruise on the skin caused by biting or sucking. While hickeys usually fade on their own within 1-2 weeks, there are steps you can take to conceal them or speed up their disappearance. This article provides tips on how to remove a hickey and ways to cover it up effectively.
Steps
Using Household Ingredients
Apply an ice pack to the hickey. Using an ice pack on the hickey as soon as possible can help constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling. This method may help the hickey fade faster.
- Wrap the ice in a clean cloth to minimize the risk of frostbite. You can also use a cold spoon, but avoid rubbing it harshly on the skin.
- If you don’t have an ice pack, you can use a bag of frozen vegetables, such as peas, or freeze a foam cup filled with water as an alternative.
- Apply the ice pack to the hickey for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Ensure there’s a 1-2 hour gap between applications. Repeat this process multiple times a day for 1-2 days.
Apply heat to the hickey. Use a warm compress if the hickey remains swollen after 2 days. Heat therapy can help dilate blood vessels and improve blood circulation, promoting faster healing.
- Use a heating pad or a cloth soaked in warm water.
- Apply heat for no more than 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Ensure the skin returns to normal temperature between applications to avoid burns.
Apply aloe vera to the hickey. Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer that can help speed up the healing process. Apply a thick layer of aloe vera to the hickey, leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wipe it off with a tissue. Repeat this twice daily until the hickey heals.
Use a banana peel on the hickey. Although there’s no scientific evidence, some believe that placing the inner side of a banana peel on the hickey can cool the area and reduce its size. Peel a banana and press the inner side of the peel onto the hickey. Leave it on for up to 30 minutes, then wipe off any residue with a damp cloth or tissue.
Accelerate the Healing Process
Consume foods rich in vitamin C and vitamin K. Deficiencies in these vitamins can make you more prone to bruising. Increase your intake of vitamin C and K-rich foods or consult a doctor about supplements.
- Foods high in vitamin K include kale, spinach, broccoli, liver, and eggs.
- Excellent sources of vitamin C include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, sweet potatoes, and red peppers.
- It’s often easier and healthier to increase your intake of these foods rather than relying on supplements. However, you can discuss supplement options with your doctor or parents. If you prefer not to explain the reason, you could say, "In health class, we learned about the importance of vitamins, and I think it would be good for me to take some now."
Quit smoking. If you smoke or use tobacco products, it’s best to stop this habit while you have a hickey. Smoking reduces blood flow and slows down the healing process of the hickey.
- Consult a doctor if you want to quit smoking. There are various medications and smoking cessation programs available to make quitting easier.
- If you’re underage, smoking is not a good idea. Your body is still developing, and smoking can interfere with this process. Talk to your parents, a trusted family member, or a school counselor if you’ve started smoking. Explain that you want help to quit and become healthier. While you might face some trouble, the benefits of quitting are worth the effort.
Avoid massaging or draining the hickey. Although it might be tempting to massage the area around the hickey, you should avoid doing so. Massaging can worsen the issue by causing more bruising and making the hickey more noticeable. Additionally, never attempt to drain the blood from the hickey with a needle, as this can cause further injury and severe pain.
Leave the area around the hickey alone. While some treatments can speed up recovery and fade the hickey, it still takes time to heal. If giving or receiving hickeys is part of your intimate moments, you can ask your partner to create them in less visible areas or avoid causing bruising.
- A hickey—essentially a bruise or pooled blood—is a type of injury. You should treat the affected area gently, just as you would with any other bruise.
Covering the Hickey
Wear a turtleneck or high-collared shirt. This can help conceal the hickey for a few days. Choose a turtleneck that fully covers your neck or try popping up the collar of a shirt.
- Turtlenecks are usually a better option since collared shirts may not fully hide the hickey.
- Keep in mind that people might become suspicious if you wear high-collared clothing for several days in a row. So, try wearing such clothing for 1-2 days and then switch to another method.
Hide the hickey with jewelry. This is a charming way to conceal a hickey while adding a stylish touch to your outfit. Scarves, bandanas, or even delicate jewelry like necklaces can temporarily cover the hickey.
- Similar to using clothing to hide a hickey, people might notice if you rely on jewelry for several days. Try varying the accessories you use and switch to another method after 1-2 days.
Use your hair to cover the hickey. If you have long hair, you can use it to hide your neck. While this isn’t a perfect solution for all-day coverage, it works well for temporary situations. For example, it can help hide the hickey from your parents. If they unexpectedly enter your room, you can quickly let your hair down to cover the mark.
Use green concealer to hide the hickey. Initially, hickeys often appear red. Green concealer contrasts with this color, making the hickey appear less noticeable.
- Apply the concealer generously to the hickey. Don’t worry about using too much—the goal is to cover it completely.
- Use a regular skin-tone concealer afterward. Use a makeup brush to blend the green concealer into your skin.
- Gently dab the area with a makeup sponge to blend the concealer until it matches your natural skin tone. Continue until the concealer is no longer visible in the mirror.
Switch to pink concealer as the hickey changes color. As the hickey heals, it often turns yellow or slightly blue. At this stage, switch to a pink-toned concealer for better coverage. Apply it the same way you would the green concealer.
Tips
- Recommendations for treating bruises can also be helpful since hickeys and bruises are both caused by blood pooling under the skin.
Warnings
- While many products and home remedies claim to remove hickeys or bruises, you should be cautious when using them. Remember that hickeys (and bruises) fade as the body reabsorbs the blood, and you cannot significantly speed up this process. Taking supplements or using unverified home remedies won’t make hickeys disappear faster and may have other health consequences.
What You’ll Need
- Concealer, foundation, and primer
- Ice or a heating pad
