How to Get Rid of a Hickey Fast

Hiding a Hickey

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Last night, you got sweet and cuddly with your partner, exchanged passionate kisses which lingered a tad bit longer than usual. And now, you notice a hickey on your neck, a red mark that reminds you of the happenings of last night. While a hickey may not be a problem for you, you are sure that you would be the center of attention when your officemates see them and you can already hear how they would tease you all day because of your hickey.

A hickey isn't harmful and it usually heals on its own after a week. You can just conceal your hickey with makeup and wait for it to go away. But that could be uncomfortable at times. So here are some tips on how to get rid of a hickey fast using some handy tools right in your own home.

What Causes a Hickey?

Before moving on, you might want to know a little more about a hickey. A hickey forms when somebody sucks on your skin, causing the blood vessels to break. The result is that familiar red or brown mark on the skin with a circular shape. Also called a love bite, a hickey may be an unwanted outcome of a passionate kiss, especially if your partner sucked on your skin too harshly. The greater the pressure, the larger the hickey. So next time you plan to get intimate with your partner, you might want to remind him or her to calm down a little and go easy on your skin to prevent a hickey.

How to Get Rid of a Hickey Really Fast

1. Cool the hickey.

As soon as you see a hickey, immediately apply ice on the affected area. You can also put a spoon in the freezer and once it’s cool, press it against your hickey. This helps reduce swelling and redness.

2. Massage it.

After cooling your hickey, the next step is to massage it. This gets the blood flowing. It is recommended to use a brush with soft bristles to do this. Massage from the inside and slowly work your way toward the outer edges of the hickey.

3. Give it a twist.

Grab a pen cap or any object with a similar shape. Position it over the hickey then twist it. Apply just the right amount of pressure so it does not hurt a lot. This might seem like a weird trick but it does help remove a hickey as it causes blood to go deeper into the skin.

4. Apply a warm compress.

If your hickey lasts for more than 48 hours, which is often the case, it is time to try some heat therapy. Apply a warm compress on the hickey for about 10 minutes. You can also put warm water in a bottle or soak a wash cloth in hot water and use it as a warm compress. This method is particularly recommended if your hickey hurts and you want to reduce pain. Just make sure that you only do this if your hickey is at least two days old, as doing this during the first 48 hours may make your hickey worse.

5. Cover it up.

Be consistent in doing the steps above and you will soon get rid of your hickey. While waiting for the hickey to fade, you might want to summon your creative sense of style and look in your closet for clothes that will help conceal your hickey. Turtlenecks and scarves are two popular choices. You can also use a concealer to hide your hickey.

Does Toothpaste Get Rid of a Hickey?

You have probably heard that you can get rid of a hickey with toothpaste. However, this is just a myth. As mentioned above, you get a hickey when your blood vessels break. Toothpaste cannot do anything to repair damaged blood vessels, and therefore, not an effective home remedy for a hickey.