What Is A Hickey?
If you are here, then perhaps you have come across the word hickey and want to know more about it. You might as well know what hickey is, but maybe you are here to find out what causes it, how to get rid of a hickey fast, and many more. You have come to the right place for your inquiries.
A Hickey (Hickie) is a bruise caused by biting, kissing, or sucking aggressively on soft skin. It is mostly found around the neck or arm. Hickey is also referred to as a love bite or kiss mark.
Like bruises, hickeys have broken blood vessels right beneath the skin’s surface, which brings out blood. The blood collection beneath the skin changes color as it dries out due to a lack of oxygen.
I am personally interested in this topic because hickeys are like displaying those intimate moments with your partner. I mean, it is like saying to your work colleagues, ‘hey, I had a make-out with hubby last night.’ While they are generally not painful, hickeys could be embarrassing. Hence, I will show you how to get rid of a hickey fast to keep your private life private.
How Long Do Hickeys Last?
Hickeys last for around a week or 2. Also, the duration of its healing will be determined by its size. The size of a hickey will be determined by the level of damage done to the capillaries under that part of the skin. Just like any bruise that can happen and heal, hickeys heal naturally on their own too.
So, when you want to worry about how and when it will heal, compare it to the regular bruises you’ve had at some points in your life and healed on their own. Hickeys leave no permanent marks or danger on you, neither is it dangerous to your health in any way. Hickeys could be on the neck, arm, breast, chest, etc.
Factors That Determine How Long A Hickey Will Last
When and how hickeys go away depends on different factors that will be discussed below. How quickly they form also depends on some factors. So, do not be worried when a hickey on the chest stays longer than that on the face. Read on to know more.
Location Of The Love Bite
It is widely believed that hickeys are given on areas frequently exposed to the sun that last much longer than others. This is false. Areas exposed mostly are the ones that heal faster since they get sun, and other exposure helpful with healing. Also, the thickness and hardness of the area the hickey is located determine how long it will last. Thick areas will be hard to put hickeys on. Hence they will quickly fade.
Condition Of The Hickey (Treatment vs. No Treatment)
You cannot compare a treated hickey with an untreated one. When treated, the love bite is encouraged to heal fast. Method of treatment is also a determinant of how quickly it will go. An untreated one will need time to heal naturally on its own, which is certainly slower than the treated one. There are several ways in which you can get rid of hickeys.
It is worthy to note that people with deteriorated health, such as suppressed immunity, some types of cancer, diabetes, a blood disorder, and so on, will find their hickey taking more time to heal.
Age
Older people might find their hickey taking more time to heal than it will with younger people. The older we get, the poorer our state of health. Regeneration of cells becomes slow. The wound healing process takes more time. Hence, your hickey might stay longer.
Gender
The skin of a man cannot be compared with that of a woman. A woman’s skin is most times more sensitive and tender. Since women have more delicate skins, their hickeys are expected to last longer than they will for a man. While those with tougher skin will not easily get a hickey likewise, it will quickly go off.
Nature of your Skin
The nature of the skin you are having will also determine how long a hickey will heal. For oily skins, it might be harder getting a hickey; likewise, it might heal quickly. But for dry skins, they are easy to crack or break, so it will be very easy to get a hickey that will last long and won’t heal that easily as oily skin would.
Severity And Size Of The Hickey
The duration of the suck and bite that led to the hickey will determine how quickly it will go. The deeper it is done, the bigger the hickey will be. Just like the severity of an injury will determine how quickly it heals, it is the same with hickeys. If less severe, it will last for just a few days.
Individual Nature
While some people’s skins are quick in healing injuries, some are naturally slow at it. It could be due to some hereditary factors or diseases. Whichever the case is, it determines greatly how soon your hickey will go.
How Long Do Hickeys Last On Your Neck?
Due to the delicate nature of the neck, it may last 2 or 3 days. It may, however, last longer than that, like up to 7 days. It all depends on the factors mentioned earlier.
How Long Do Hickeys Last On Your Breast?
On the breast is an overlying skin that is highly delicate; it may take 10 to 15 days or even 21 days for the hickey to go. On the breast or nipple, a hickey goes in deep. Since the breast is not a part often exposed to the sun or other light, it makes the hickey last longer.
How Long Do Hickeys Last On Your Chest?
The chest, just like the breast, is mostly covered by clothing hence unexposed. This is enough to make the hickey stay longer. It also differs between men and women. A woman’s chest is much more delicate than a man’s, so a hickey might go away faster on her chest than it will on his.
How Long Do Hickeys Last On Your Face?
Since the face is continuously exposed to the sun, it is expected for hickeys placed there; forehead, cheeks inclusive, to disappear faster than other parts. Hickeys here can go off within 3 days. Only on occasions other due to some factors will it stay up to 8 days. Otherwise, it is 3 days max.
Duration Of Healing With Treatment
Putting a hickey under treatment is just like forcing it to heal. Extra care for wounds generally will speed up the healing process even though it will still end up healing naturally. However, what form of treatment you choose will determine how soon it will go—there are various treatments for it, which will be discussed later on in this article.
One will always be better than another, and it will work differently for different individuals. Expectedly, with a treatment, hickeys should be treated within 2 to 3 days and nothing more. Nevertheless, using a remedy that does not affect will leave the hickey untreated, and it will just stay for as long as it is meant to stay.
Duration Of Healing Without Treatment
As I have mentioned earlier, a hickey will last between a week or 2 generally when untreated. This will vary depending on the area, the intensity of the hickey, how exposed the area is, and so on. So, you might find an untreated hickey going away within 5 days or above.
How To Get Rid Of A Hickey
1. Cold Compress
You Will Need
- Ice cubes
- Towel
- Metallic spoons (alternative for ice cubes and towel)
Process
1. Place some ice cubes in your towel.
2. Press gently on the affected area for about 10 minutes. Cold compress puts pressure on the broken blood capillaries, and as a result, bleeding is reduced. The ice will also help relieve any pain you might be feeling, though hickeys are generally not painful.
3. Ensure you avoid direct placement of ice on the skin. It can lead to ice burn.
4. Alternatively, you can place a metallic spoon in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Take out, wrap with a cloth and rub on the affected area with a gentle press.
2. Aloe Vera
You Will Need
- Aloe Vera plant
Alternatively;
- [amazon link=”B01N9QS1HN” title=”Aloe vera-based cream” /]
Process
1. Rub Aloe Vera extract of area
2. Massage twice or thrice daily
3. Orange
You Will Need
- Orange juice
- Orange fruit
Process
1. Immediately you notice a hickey, drink fresh orange juice.
2. Or you can use an orange pack on the hickey.
4. Massage
You Will Need
- [amazon link=”B00QQOERJE” title=”Any essential oil” /]
Process
1. Apply the oil to the affected area.
2. Place 2 fingers on the affected area.
3. Rub in a circular motion in a direction for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Change direction and continue to rub.
5. It should be rubbed firmly.
Massage helps to scatter the clotted blood beneath the skin. This will help you reduce the coloration.
5. Alcohol application
You Will Need
- Alcohol
- Cotton balls
- Moisturizing lotion
Process
1. Apply alcohol to the area with the use of a cotton ball.
2. Massage gently for some minutes.
3. Apply any moisturizing lotion to help with dehydration.
This method should be used around a few hours after hickeys appear for effectiveness.
6. Peppermint
You Will Need
- [amazon link=”B00OEIBJRW” title=”Peppermint oil” /]
Alternatively;
- Peppermint based toothpaste
- Olive oil
- Almond oil
Process
1. Apply peppermint oil in the area.
2. Leave there for several minutes.
3. Alternatively, a peppermint-based toothpaste can be applied.
4. Remove the paste with a warm washcloth when tingling stops.
Use this immediately after the hickey appears for the best results.
7. Hot Compress
You Will Need
- Washcloth
- Hot water
Process
1. Place the washcloth in the hot water
2. Wring the cloth
3. Place on the affected area for minutes
4. Repeat the process till satisfied
8. Banana Peelings
You Will Need
- Ripe banana
Process
1. Cut up banana
2. Remove a portion of the skin and place it on the affected area for a while
3. Repeat the process about 3 or more times daily
How To Cover A Hickey With Makeup
To hide a hickey under makeup, you will want to cleanse the area first. After that is done, the next thing is to prime the area using your face primer. This will cover up well and as well will last long enough. Then apply a color corrector. The green color corrector will work well for red spots, while a yellow corrector will work fine for purplish areas.
After the application of color corrector, the application of concealer is the next step. The cream formula is the best concealer you might want to use. Apply it with a dense brush, preferably. Dust over the area with a fluffy brush and powder. This will seal it all. If you wish, you can use a makeup setting spray if you want it to stay more.
Final Words On How To Get Rid Of A Hickey Fast
I hope you have enjoyed and learned a lot from this tutorial. The above-listed remedies for removing hickey are highly recommended. Most of these things are what you readily have at home. Be it in your kitchen or your bathroom; you will find some of these things. Even if you have to purchase them, they do not cost so much.
Also, these are majorly natural things that are safe for you and your skin. So, why not try them out? I will like to hear from you before and after you try them. Please tell me what you think. Kindly drop your comments and share this article for others to learn from it as well.
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