Hickeys, also known as love bites or kiss marks, are temporary bruises on the skin caused by sucking or biting. While some people view hickeys as badges of honor from a night of passion, others may want to hide them for privacy or professional reasons. Fortunately, there are many techniques you can use to conceal a hickey quickly and easily.
What causes hickeys?
Hickeys form when the tiny blood vessels under the surface of the skin are broken, often by aggressive kissing, sucking or biting. The ruptured capillaries leak blood that pools and coagulates under the skin, creating a bruise. Hickeys are usually red or purple at first, fading to a brownish color as they heal. The duration depends on the extent of the damage, but hickeys generally last about 5-12 days before disappearing completely.
How to cover up a hickey
If you need to hide a hickey fast, here are some of the most effective methods:
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Concealer | Dab concealer over the hickey and blend it in using a makeup sponge. Choose a concealer that matches your skin tone. Set it with powder to make it last. |
| Foundation | For a sheer application, use a liquid or cream foundation in your skin color. Dot it over the hickey and blend the edges. |
| Color correcting | Use a green-tinted concealer to neutralize redness before applying skin-toned concealer. |
| Scarf or turtleneck | Cover the hickey with clothing like turtlenecks, scarves, collared shirts, or hoodies. |
| Hair | Style your hair so it falls over the hickey, or use hair accessories like hats, headbands or bandanas to disguise it. |
Always prep the skin by cleansing, moisturizing, and applying primer before using makeup to conceal a hickey. Set concealer with powder and setting spray to increase longevity. Test colors and coverage techniques in advance to find what works best for your skin tone.
Home remedies to get rid of hickeys fast
If you don’t have makeup or clothing to camouflage a hickey, try these DIY methods to speed healing and fading:
| Remedy | Method |
|---|---|
| Cold compress | Wrap ice or a cold pack in a towel and apply to new hickeys to constrict blood vessels and reduce bleeding. |
| Heat | Use a warm compress or heating pad on the hickey to increase blood flow and promote circulation after the first day. |
| Massage | Gently rub the hickey with your fingers using a circular motion from the outside edges toward the center to disperse the pooled blood. |
| Peppermint | Rub a peppermint essential oil onto the hickey. Its soothing and stimulating properties may accelerate skin healing. |
| Aloe vera | Apply aloe vera gel directly over the hickey for its anti-inflammatory effects. |
| Vitamin K | Eat vitamin K-rich foods like spinach, kale, blueberries, and avocado to potentially speed bruise healing. |
| Arnica | Use arnica creams or ointments made from the herb to reduce bruising and swelling. |
| Pineapple | Eat fresh pineapple or drink pineapple juice. It contains the enzyme bromelain, which may help clear bruising. |
Always use home treatments gently. Vigorous rubbing or icing can damage the skin. Give remedies 2-3 days to start working before trying something else. Avoid using multiple products simultaneously unless you know they’re safe to mix.
How long do hickeys last?
Without intervention, hickeys typically last 5-12 days. Here is the general timetable for a hickey’s lifespan:
| Days Since Hickey Appeared | Appearance and Symptoms |
|---|---|
| 1-2 days | Darkest coloring. Sore and swollen. |
| 3-4 days | Dark purple, red or brown. Moderately tender. |
| 5-7 days | Fading to greenish or yellowish tones. Only mildly sensitive. |
| 8-12 days | Nearly disappeared with minimal discoloration. No longer sore. |
Factors like your age, genetics, and skin tone affect how quickly you heal from a hickey. The size and intensity of the love bite also play a role. Severe hickeys may last longer than lighter ones.
Tips for avoiding and treating hickeys
Here are some final tips on preventing painful hickeys and managing them discreetly if they do occur:
- Avoid aggressive kissing and sucking that can rupture blood vessels and burst capillaries when giving hickeys.
- Ice new hickeys as soon as possible to limit bleeding and reduce inflammation.
- Use a soft toothbrush to gently exfoliate the area once bruising starts to fade.
- Apply aloe vera twice daily to nourish skin and restore moisture.
- Keep the area protected with bandages or clothing to avoid irritation.
- Consider using a gentle teething gel for babies to numb soreness.
- Take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen to ease swelling and tenderness.
- Drink plenty of water and eat vitamin K-rich foods to rehydrate damaged cells and improve circulation.
- Avoid picking scabs as hickeys heal to prevent scarring.
When to see a doctor
Most hickeys aren’t serious and heal on their own within a few days up to 2 weeks. See your doctor if:
- The area becomes severely swollen or inflamed
- Your hickey doesn’t start to improve after 2 weeks
- You develop flu-like symptoms like fever or sore throat
- The site oozes pus or other discharge, indicating infection
Rarely, hickeys linked to blood clotting disorders can be dangerous. Seek immediate care if you experience severe headache, vision changes, difficulty breathing, chest pain, leg swelling, or numbness after receiving a hickey or other trauma to your neck or throat area.
Conclusion
Although hickeys are generally harmless, some people may want to conceal them. Makeup, clothing, home treatments, and time can help hickeys heal faster and reduce embarrassment. Avoid rough kissing and nibbling during intimacy to prevent marks. With the right techniques, you can easily hide hickeys in professional settings until they fade.