So, you’ve got a hickey—an unwanted mark left after a little too much passion, and now it’s got you scrambling for a way to make it disappear fast. While there’s no magic trick to remove a hickey instantly, there are ways to help minimize its appearance and speed up the healing process.
If you’ve found yourself googling how to get rid of a hickey fast, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide to healing that love bite in no time.
What is a Hickey and Why Does It Happen?
A hickey, also known as a “love bite” or “kiss mark,” is essentially a bruise caused by suction or biting. When someone applies pressure to the skin, blood vessels break, causing blood to leak under the skin and form the characteristic red, purple, or dark mark. While hickeys are usually harmless, they can be embarrassing, especially if you’ve got an important event or meeting coming up.
So, how do we get rid of it quickly?
Immediate Steps to Minimize a Hickey (First 24 Hours)
The first thing you need to know is that the earlier you treat the hickey, the faster it will heal. While there’s no way to make it vanish entirely in hours, these immediate steps will help reduce the appearance of the bruise.
1. Apply a Cold Compress (First 1-2 Hours)
When a hickey first forms, the best thing you can do is use a cold compress. Applying something cold to the hickey constricts blood vessels, which helps reduce the size of the bruise and prevents further blood from pooling under your skin.
How to do it:
Take a cold pack or even a chilled metal spoon (yes, really!) and apply it to the affected area for about 10-20 minutes. Repeat this several times in the first couple of hours after getting the hickey.
2. Use Arnica Gel to Reduce Swelling
Arnica, a natural herb often used for bruising, can help your hickey heal faster. It’s known for reducing swelling and discoloration.
How to do it:
Apply arnica gel or cream to the hickey two to three times a day. It’s safe, non-invasive, and really works to speed up healing by stimulating blood flow and promoting tissue repair.
3. Aloe Vera for Soothing and Healing
Aloe vera is a go-to for soothing irritated skin, and it can help calm any inflammation around your hickey. Plus, it’s a great way to keep your skin hydrated.
How to do it:
Apply pure aloe vera gel directly to the hickey and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Aloe’s anti-inflammatory properties work wonders on calming the skin and reducing the severity of the hickey.
After 48 Hours: How to Break Up the Blood and Speed Up Recovery
Once the first 48 hours have passed, your hickey will begin to turn from red to purple or blue as the blood settles in. At this stage, you can begin to treat the bruise with methods that encourage blood circulation and help the body reabsorb the blood more efficiently.
4. Apply a Warm Compress to Promote Healing
After the first 48 hours, switch to a warm compress to encourage blood flow. This helps the body break down the blood clot that caused the hickey.
How to do it:
Soak a washcloth in warm water (make sure it’s not too hot) and apply it to the hickey for 15-20 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day to promote healing.
5. Gentle Massage to Break Down the Blood
Once the hickey has started to heal, a gentle massage can help break down the blood under the skin and speed up its absorption. But be careful—you don’t want to make the mark worse!
How to do it:
Use a jade roller or a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently massage the area in circular motions. Focus on the edges of the hickey where the blood has pooled, but make sure you’re gentle.
6. Conceal the Hiccup with Makeup
Need to hide the hickey fast? Color correction and a good concealer will do the trick.
How to do it:
- Use a green corrector for red hickeys to neutralize the color.
- For blue or purple hickeys, use a yellow/peach corrector to balance the hue.
- Apply a full-coverage concealer over the corrector to match your skin tone, then set everything with translucent powder to avoid smudging.
How to Prevent a Hickey (Next Time)
As much as we’d like to get rid of a hickey in a snap, prevention is better than cure. Here are a few tips to avoid hickeys in the future:
- Avoid excessive pressure: Gentle kisses are always better than hard sucking.
- Use your hands: Instead of leaving your neck vulnerable, guide the pressure with your hands or use softer gestures.
- Be mindful of your partner’s technique: If you’re prone to hickeys, ask for softer approaches or warn your partner about your sensitive skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long do hickeys typically last?
Hickeys typically last anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. The duration depends on how deep the bruise is and how well you take care of it.
2. What makeup is best for concealing a hickey?
For a smooth, flawless look, full-coverage concealer works best to cover hickeys. Use color correctors like green, yellow, or peach depending on the color of the hickey, then layer concealer on top to blend seamlessly with your skin tone.
3. What are other common myths about treating bruises?
A lot of people swear by methods like toothpaste or scraping the hickey with a fork to speed up healing, but these methods can irritate the skin and worsen the bruise. Stick to proven techniques like cold or warm compresses, arnica gel, and gentle massage.
4. How do I know when a hickey is healed?
A hickey is healed when the discoloration fades and the swelling is gone. Typically, the mark will start turning from dark purple to brown as it heals. If you still feel discomfort or see active swelling after 2 weeks, consult a doctor.
Conclusion: Don’t Let a Hickey Ruin Your Day!
While there’s no instant fix for a hickey, with the right care and attention, you can reduce its appearance and help it heal faster. Stick with cold and warm compresses, arnica gels, and gentle massage for the best results. And if all else fails, remember—makeup can work wonders when you need to cover up fast!
You’ve got this! Whether it’s for a special event or just a casual day, embrace your beautiful skin, hickey and all!
