Dating Advice

Steps to Remove a Hickey by Lisa

Effective Ways to Eliminate⁣ a⁤ Hickey (You’ll Thank Us Later)

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Chances are,​ if you’re reading this article, you’re seeking a quick solution to ‍erase that conspicuous mark on your neck, unmistakably known as a‌ hickey. Why the rush to hide it? While a⁢ hickey might earn you some bragging rights among your peers, it’s often viewed ‍as embarrassing and inappropriate by parents, ⁤teachers, and older individuals. ​It’s​ a clear sign that ‍you’ve been involved in some passionate kissing recently, which can make those⁤ who feel responsible for you uncomfortable, and ​perhaps even a little upset.

However, hickeys are just a part ⁤of the broader romantic and sexual landscape — ‌even animals give them to ⁤each other. Referred to as ‍”love bites” in the ​animal kingdom, this phenomenon⁢ was first studied and documented by psychologist Havelock Ellis in the 1800s. In his research, Ellis found ⁤that male mammals⁣ would grip their female counterparts’ necks with their teeth before⁤ mating. He concluded that this was a⁣ display of the male asserting his dominance over the female (essentially the animal version of ⁣a dominant/submissive relationship). As you’re aware ​(since you’re ⁢reading this), the human hickey is not gender-specific.

But if your parents (or worse, hers) are not⁣ willing to overlook ‌that mark on your neck, even after you’ve enlightened them with some scientific and historical facts about why it’s entirely normal, you’re likely going to want⁤ to try ⁤and ‍erase it as effectively and quickly ​as possible. Don’t ⁣worry ​— there are numerous methods and products available that can​ help conceal that love mark, regardless of ⁤its size. Here’s an explanation of ‌how hickeys are formed, the most effective ways to eliminate them, and a few products that can help make them virtually invisible.

Understanding Hickeys

Of course, you know how it happened. But what’s happening ​beneath the skin while you’re being passionately⁢ kissed on the neck? “A hickey is essentially a form of bruising,” explains plastic surgeon Dr. Ryan Neinstein. “Hickeys are formed as⁢ a result of external suction on the‍ skin surface from kissing with suction or light biting. This suction causes the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) near the top layer of the dermis to burst, causing blood to leak out and collect in one ⁢area, forming ⁢a hickey. Areas with very​ soft skin (like the front ‍and sides of the neck and inside​ of ⁢your arms) have⁢ more capillaries closer to the surface.”

As physician and health and wellness expert Dr. Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe explains, the size of these vessels also contributes⁤ to why hickeys appear so ⁢prominently. “There are certain vessels that supply ‌blood to your skin,” she says.⁢ “A hickey is‍ essentially bruising that occurs‌ when some of the very small ​superficial vessels that are found‌ just beneath the skin become damaged and rupture as a result of sucking on the skin.”

As for how long they last, licensed psychologist⁣ Dr. Rachel Needle ⁢ says it depends on several factors. ​”How long a hickey lasts depends on a number of factors: Generally, a hickey can last anywhere between five days​ to four weeks depending ⁣on the size, depth, area of the body, and an individual’s age,” she explains. “Some medical ⁣conditions and medications ‌can contribute to slower healing.” An iron deficiency, for example, has been shown to affect​ healing time. “Also, if the individual takes a lot of blood thinners like aspirin or fish oil or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, ‍they may get a⁤ worse response.⁤ Therefore, those ⁢should be stopped.”

Dr. Needle says the location also plays a ​significant role in how long your hickey will⁣ linger. “The more vascular the area, the longer it will last,” she explains. “In an area that is not vascular and very thick, such as⁤ with a lot of⁣ adipose‍ tissue, it probably ⁤wouldn’t be as bad or ‍remain as long as an area that was vascular⁢ and had very thin non-muscular, non-fat containing tissue, like the neck.”

Real Men’s Experiences: “During my senior year, my class ⁤had a camp out at the beach on Lake Michigan, and things got a little wild,” says Mark, 21. ⁣”This was​ also the day ⁢before my ‌high school senior pictures, and a huge hickey was⁣ there right on my neck the next ⁢morning. I had to figure it out ‍fast, so I ​used the hickey comb method, where you comb out the hickey to⁢ make it look like‌ something⁣ other than a⁢ hickey — mine probably ended up looking more like a cougar scratch (I was camping out, after all). Then I went looking in the bathroom‌ for something‍ else that would help, and I saw⁣ my mom’s concealer. It matched my skin color so I used that to cover it up even more. It worked like a charm.”

Effective Methods to Eliminate a Hickey

Depending on when you notice the hickey and how quickly ⁤you act, you have several treatment options⁤ to try and get rid of them naturally. Here are a few tried-and-true methods for erasing ⁤those embarrassing love bites — or ⁣at least reducing their appearance.

Apply Ice

“The first remedy for healing hickeys ⁤more quickly is to use a simple cooling method,” says Dr. Neinstein. “Use an ice pack or wrap several ice cubes in a towel and press⁤ it on the affected area for‍ 7-10 minutes‌ as soon‌ as possible. Alternatively, this can also be done by placing a metal spoon in the freezer until chilled and applying it to the affected area. This will eliminate any swelling associated with the affected area.”

“Applying ice will constrict the smaller blood ⁢vessels and hopefully help ‍with the capillaries at ⁤the surface,”‌ Dr. Needle adds. “Ice should ​be applied with some pressure and as soon after getting the hickey as you can.”

Try Peppermint Toothpaste

If you’re using⁢ the toothpaste method, it’s important to ensure that peppermint is listed as an ingredient for it to be effective. “By spreading a thin⁣ layer of peppermint-based ⁣toothpaste on the ​hickey, ⁣the peppermint acts as a calming effect⁣ on the skin and any inflammation,” explains Dr. Neinstein. “You may feel the​ area‌ tingle at first. Leave the toothpaste on until the tingling subsides. Wipe the area gently with a warm washcloth.”

Brush It Out

One of ⁤the oldest and most frequently ‍recommended methods‌ of getting rid of a hickey is ‌to ‍brush or comb it out. There’s some debate over whether this actually ​makes things worse, but the idea behind it is that if you’re able to break up those blood clots, it might make the⁣ affected area ⁣look less visible.‍ “Use a ⁣soft-bristled‍ toothbrush to gently stimulate ⁣the blood flow in‌ that area to promote healing,” Dr. Neinstein explains.

Real Men’s Experiences: “I learned how to remove hickeys long ⁣ago, when I was in the ⁢Army —⁢ where hickeys were a punishable offense,” says‌ Mitchell, 31. “If you haven’t done this you may think I’m crazy, but I promise it works (having had to do⁤ it myself on more than ‌one occasion). ⁤Wet the area of the hickey, and take a comb and‌ place it so that the edges of the teeth are on the hickey (so the comb is sticking straight out, perpendicular⁤ to the hickey). ⁣Rub the comb up and down over the hickey (keeping it wet, so you will need to keep applying water).‌ Eventually the area will get really red from the rubbing (it doesn’t feel great, but it’s tolerable). The area is going to⁤ get really red, and when you can no longer distinguish between ​the hickey and the rest⁢ of the red area,​ you can stop, and when the redness goes​ away (fairly shortly)‍ the hickey will have magically disappeared. I’m sure the reason this works is that it⁣ breaks up the blood (which is what the hickey is) ​so that it can be reabsorbed and cleared⁢ away ⁣by your body.”

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