We’ve all been there. You and your partner are having some fun in the sack, things get heated, all cares and caution is thrown into the wind and the next day you wake up with a huge, highly visible hickey on your neck.
While some people believe that hickeys are a badge of honor, for most of us they are an unsightly reminder of a wild night that we would rather not have on display for the world to see.
Luckily, there are a few methods that you can use to get rid of a hickey fast. So if you’re looking to get rid of that love bite ASAP, read on for some helpful tips.
What is a Hickey?
A hickey, also known as a love bite or a kiss mark, is a bruise that forms when small blood vessels near the skin’s surface are broken. This usually occurs when the skin is sucked, kissed or nibbled with a bit more force than usual.
While hickeys can occur on most parts of the body, they are usually found around the neck area, which, for anyone who has to go to work the next day knows, is not an easy thing to conceal.
And while hickeys can happen by accident, they are often deliberate. For some people, giving or receiving a hickey can be seen as a sign of affection. In fact, some people even see hickeys as a form of erotic play.
However, not everyone is a fan of hickeys. For many people, they are an embarrassing mark that can be difficult to hide. And in some cases, hickeys can even lead to anxiety or relationship problems.
How to Avoid a Hickey
One of the easiest ways to avoid a hickey is to simply communicate to your partner that hickeys are a no go. You can come up with several excuses, like you have to go to work today or perhaps you’re having an affair and you don’t want your wife to know. But making it clear that you don’t want a hickey will hopefully make your partner think twice before giving you one.
If you’re in the moment and you realize that your partner is about to give you a hickey, there are a few things that you can do to stop it from happening.
If you want to stay in the moment, try tickling your partner or shifting your position so that she loses suction on your skin.
You can also turn the tides by beginning to kiss her instead, taking control of the moment and preventing her from over sucking.
How to Get Rid of a Hickey
To be honest, time is usually the most dependable way to heal a hickey.
But there are a few tried and true methods for at least speeding up the healing of a hickey. Some of these methods may work better for you than others, so it’s best to try a few and see what works best.
Ice It:
One of the easiest and most effective ways to get rid of a hickey is to apply an ice pack to the area as soon as possible. The cold temperature will help to constrict the blood vessels, which will in turn reduce the swelling and redness.
To use this method, wrap an ice cube in a clean cloth and apply it to your hickey for 15-20 minutes. Repeat this process several times a day for the first 24-48 hours after you get the hickey.
Try a Warm Compress:
If you find that the cold compress is not helping to reduce the pain and swelling of your hickey, you can try using a warm compress instead. The heat will help to increase blood flow to the area, which may speed up the healing process.
To use this method, simply soak a clean cloth in warm water and apply it to your hickey for 15-20 minutes. Repeat this process several times a day for the first 24-48 hours after you get the hickey.
Swab With Alcohol Right After It Happens:
If you act quickly, you may be able to prevent a hickey from forming in the first place.
As soon as you notice that your skin has been broken (i.e. you see a small red mark), swab the area with rubbing alcohol. This will help to prevent the blood from clotting and will make it less likely that a hickey will form.
Use Vitamin E:
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help to reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process. Not only can it help to fade a hickey, it can also help reduce the appearance of scars.
To use this method, simply break open a vitamin E capsule and apply the contents to your hickey. You can do this several times a day until the hickey fades.
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Try Some Arnica
Arnica is a remedy that has been around for hundreds of years that’s use to treat bruises and sore muscles. It works by helping to break up the blood that has pooled under the skin, which is what causes the hickey in the first place.
To use arnica to get rid of a hickey, simply purchase some arnica cream or ointment from your local health store and apply it to the hickey a few times a day. You should start to see results within a few days.
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Use Some Aloe
When it doubt, put aloe on it. That’s what my Mom always use to say.
Aloe is another household remedy that can help to get rid of a hickey quickly. Aloe works by promoting healing and helping to reduce inflammation.
To use aloe, simply break off a piece of an aloe plant and rub the gel directly onto the hickey. You can also purchase aloe gel from most health stores. Apply the gel a few times a day and you should see results within a few days.
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Get a Laser Treatment:
Laser treatments are becoming increasingly popular for getting rid of all sorts of unwanted blemishes, including hickeys.
Laser treatments work by heating up the blood vessels under the skin, which causes them to constrict and close off. This process helps to break up the clotting that causes a hickey in the first place.
Most laser treatments take only a few minutes and are relatively painless. However, they can be expensive, so this may not be the best option if you’re on a budget.
Let Time Heal:
Unfortunately, for most of us, there is no quick fix for a hickey and often the best thing you can do is simply let time take its course. In most cases, a hickey will heal on its own in a short amount of time.
To speed up the healing process, you can try using the methods outlined above. You can also try massaging the area around the hickey with your fingers to help break up the clotted blood beneath the skin.
How Long Does It Take for Hickey to Heal?
Most hickeys will heal on their own within a few days to a week. But it’s important to avoid picking or scratching at the hickey as this can cause further irritation and delay healing.
Of course, the severity and size of the hickey will also play a role in how long it takes to heal. A small hickey may only take a few days to heal while a large, aggressive hickey could take up to two weeks.
How to Hide a Hickey
So you’ve tried several of the methods above, but you need the hickey to be gone asap. Like the very next day.
Unfortunately, that probably won’t happen. So the quickest solution to getting rid of a nasty hickey is to hide it. Here’s a few tips on concealing that little love bite.
Use a Bandage
If it’s in an area that you simply can’t hide with clothing, like high up your neck, then you can try using a bandage as a disguise.
Just make sure that the bandage is big enough to cover the entire hickey. Just blame it on shaving and you’re good to go.
Obviously, this solution is dependent on the size of the hickey and the number of hickeys you have. If you walk in with a bandage covering half your neck…people are going to talk.
Use Makeup
Guys don’t like talking about makeup, but it’s always good to have a small bottle of concealer (that matches your skin tone) in your drawer. Whether it’s to hide a pesky pimply or a hickey!
Simply apply the makeup to the hickey and blend it in with your finger. If it’s a big hickey, full coverage might be difficult but even concealing it a small amount will make people question what it actually it.
Find a concealer to match your skin tone is crucial. Here’s my favorite “Concealer for men” product that I use personally:
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Use Clothing
Of course, the most obvious solution is to wear clothing that covers the area. If it’s on your neck, if you live in a cold environment, then turtlenecks are always a good option.
If not, a high-collared shirt or a scarf are great options as well.
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The Top 3 Excuses for A Hickey
So you’ve been discovered! Your friends, wife, girlfriend or co-workers have spotted your little love bite and are asking questions.
Here are some good excuses to give that at least seem plausible:
- It’s an insect bite and I had a bad reaction to it: Mosquito bites, spider bites and other creepy crawly bites can often look similar to hickeys. So if you’re lucky enough to have an insect bite in the same area as your hickey, use it as an excuse!
- It’s a rash: Rashes can be caused by a number of things like allergies, sensitivities or even illnesses. So if you have a rash in the same area as your hickey, use it as an excuse!
- It’s an allergic reaction: Allergies are becoming more and more common these days, so this excuse is definitely believable. If you have an allergy to something in the same area as your hickey, use it as an excuse! When it doubt, blame it on gluten! 😉
