You should know that you’re not the only one trying to know how to get rid of hickeys. You might have tried several methods to get rid of them with no success but, that shouldn’t stop you from trying to know more about hickeys and how to get rid of them.
Before we dive into how to get rid of hickeys, let’s briefly look at all you should know about hickeys.
1. What are Hickeys?
Hickeys are known to be bruises caused by broken vessels. Hickeys can be gotten as a result of intense kissing, sucking, or biting. Hickeys don’t take too long to appear on the affected area.
They are mostly found on the sensitive parts of the skin like the shoulders, the chest, and the neck. However, hickeys can be gotten on any part of the skin.
2. What Does a Hickey Look Like?
For those wondering what a hickey looks like, you should know that to spot a hickey, you will see a dark red spot on the affected part of the skin. You will also notice a brown color or darker shade of purple immediately after the dark red spot dries out.
To know when the hickey is in the healing process, the spot turns yellowish. Thinking about the size? Well, they are mostly mouth-sized shaped.
3. How to Get Rid of Hickeys
There are different ways you can use to get rid of your hickey fast and quicker:
3.1. Massage the Area
You should know that massages are therapeutic because they can help relieve pain. They can also help activate blood flow. When you constantly massage your hickey for some minutes, you will find out that the scar will gradually fade away.
3.2. Use Cocoa Butter
The use of cocoa butter on the affected part of the skin cannot be overemphasized. The fat present in cocoa butter is very essential to the skin.
The application of cocoa butter on the affected area will help smoothen the scars. It is also known to clear out wrinkles and stretch marks because of the phytochemicals and fatty acids content it has.
Cocoa butter can help speed up the healing process of hickeys.
3.3. Apply Essential Oil
The kind of oil you should use when massaging should be peppermint oil. This is because it helps in the reduction of the size of your hickey.
You should make sure that you do not make use of cooking oil. It is advisable to make use of diluted essential oils to help speed up the healing process.
To do this effectively, all you need to do is to add about 10 drops of olive or coconut oil to a drop of essential oil. You can now use the mixture to massage the affected area till the hickey disappears.
3.4. Apply Cold Compress
Cold compresses are very effective when it comes to lessening the intensity of a bruise. This is because of the cool temperature which helps to decrease blood flow in the skin.
An alternative can be the use of a towel soaked in cold water on the affected area. You can place the towel in the area for about 8 minutes at different intervals in a day.
3.5. Apply Topical Vitamin C
The application of Vitamin C in your hickey will help keep your skin healthy and smooth. You should know that Vitamin C contains antioxidants that can help increase the collagen production of the skin.
Vitamin C can also help toughen the tissues of the skin which can help heal your hickey quickly. Daily consumption of fruits or food rich in Vitamin C is a very good way to cure hickeys.
3.6. Try Warm Compress
Once you’re done using the cold press on the affected area, the next step is to a little heat. Warm compresses are known to help extend blood circulation in the affected area.
As a result, the hickey might even disappear sooner than expected. This should be applied on the third day after the application of the cold compress.
3.7. Laser Removal
This is a very effective way to remove your hickey because you are seeking professional help. A dermatologist will help with laser treatment to help remove your hickey gradually.
In this method, light therapy is used to enhance the production of new skin cells and remove the outer layer. This will help conceal the damaged part of the skin.
You should note that this treatment should be carried out 24 hours after you get the hickey.
3.8. Use a Banana Peel Mask
It’s no news that banana peels are very rich in nutrients and vitamins. The nutrients contained in the peel can help diminish the scar created by the hickey.
All you have to do is to place the peel of a ripe banana on the affected part of your skin and gently rub it. You should continue this process for about thirty minutes till the peel loses its coloration.
You can do this two to three times daily till your hickey varnishes.
3.9. Try Arnica Cream
You should be aware that arnica is not your regular flowering herb. This herb has been used on burns and bruises for many years. It’s amazing how the helenalin content in the herb is what is responsible for its healing powers.
This helps to reduce the swelling of any type of bruises so it is ideal to apply the arnica gel on your hickey.
3.10. Eat Fresh Pineapples
Do you know that pineapples contain bromelain? Well, the bromelain content in pineapple is what helps to heal bruises. Unlike the use of bananas, you do not have to apply pineapples to your hickey.
All you need to do is to eat your pineapples fresh and that fixes your enzymes.
3.11. Try Aloe Vera
You should know that aloe vera has a whole lot of health benefits. They contain anti-inflammatory properties that prevent your bruise from getting bigger.
The application of the gel to your hickey can help fasten the healing process. Although it might take a little more time, it would definitely heal when the time is right.
4. How to Remove a Hickey in Seconds with Toothpaste
The use of toothpaste to remove hickeys is one way to get rid of hickeys really fast.
You should follow these processes to get it done the right way:
1. Using your toothbrush, gently brush the bristles on the hickey-affected area of your skin. This shouldn’t be done in one direction so that the clotted blood can be spread around the areas of the blood tissue.
2. Next, this process should be repeated for about five to eight minutes.
For the toothbrush method to be effective, you should combine it with the cold compress method. This means that the use of a cold towel after using the brush on your skin is advisable.
5. How to Hide a Hickey
It’s pretty easy to hide your hickey from friends, colleagues, or family if you feel embarrassed by it.
Here are some of the options you can use:
5.1. Use a Scarf
You can use a scarf to make your hickey visible to the eye of the public. You just have to wrap the scarf around your neck and ensure that you’re using the scarf in the appropriate season.
Some people can also go to the extent of using a bandage to cover up the affected part. Those with long hair might have no need for a scarf as they can use their hair to cover up the hickey. They just have to make sure that their hair is in place at all times.
5.2. Use the Right Shirt
Since hickeys are mostly found at the neck, the right shirt can help protect your hickey from the world. You can wear a turtleneck long-sleeved shirt or a shirt with a collar.
You should wear your turtleneck in the right season so that you do not look odd, especially in the middle of the summer.
5.3. Use Makeup
Apart from the use of turtlenecks and scarves, another way to conceal your hickey is by applying makeup on the hickey spot. There are concealers like pigmented concealers that are known to hide tattoos. It can be used to hide your hickeys.
You can make use of a color corrector in this process. If you are in a situation where you do not have a color corrector, you can use red lipstick to hide the discoloration.
Then, you can now apply the concealer and make sure it dries off completely before dusting out the particles.
5.4. Apply a Temporary Tattoo
This is a brilliant way to hide your hickey. A temporary tattoo directly over your hickey would help conceal the fact that you have a love bite.
This should be a great option if you already have tattoos on your body. It will feel weird if you’re anti-tattoos and suddenly you get a tattoo. It will definitely get people talking and suspicious.
6. What You Should Avoid
In as much as there are different remedies to try out when removing hickeys, there are some you should avoid:
6.1. Using a Lip Balm Cap
This is one method most people use to try to hide their hickeys. You should be aware that there is no proven evidence that this method actually gets rid of hickeys.
6.2. Using Toothpaste
While the use of a toothbrush to get rid of a hickey is advisable, using toothpaste in this regard is not advisable.
6.3. Rubbing with a Coin
This method will cause more damage to your hickey. This is because of the intense pressure involved. Therefore, the use of coins on your hickey should be avoided.
7. Final Thoughts
It is not a difficult task to get rid of hickeys. You just have to follow the methods mentioned above. If you discover that your hickey is staying longer than necessary, you should seek professional help. A dermatologist would give you the right information on what should be done about the hickey.
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat
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