How To Get Rid Of A Hickey

What is a hickey?

Also known as a love bite or kiss mark, hickeys are a common and embarrassing problem that can haunt over-zealous teenagers (and some adults who should know better). They are caused by sucking on the skin which leads in blood vessels beneath the skin bursting, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding area.

How to get rid of a hickey:

Avoidance is always the preferred. Hickeys really are not a good look. Once you have one, you will have to let your body heal. However, there are ways to reduce the severity & or speed up the healing process. Try the following;

• As soon as possible, apply something cold (ice pack, cold compress, frozen peas, cold spoon) to the area for 10-15 minutes on & then 10-15 minutes off. Repeat several times. This helps to reduce the swelling.
• Lightly brush the area with a soft toothbrush, this helps to increase circulation and disperse the blood clots in the area.
• Arnica gel is reportedly great for healing. It can be purchased from your local chemist or health food store. Rub into the affected area.
• Grab a coin & stretch the affected skin taut. Using the edge of the coin, gently scrape the coin over the skin. Ice immediately.
• If the above methods don't completely work, you may have to conceal the hickey with make up. Green tinged concealer is the best for this.
• Other last resort methods include; wearing a turtleneck, scarf or your hair down.

How long does a hickey last?

This depends on the size of the hickey, how dark it is & if it has been treated. As a general guide, a hickey should heal within a week.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a doctor & should not be considered a replacement for a doctor visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate medical advice for any problems.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.